The nuclear family structure consists of two parents (Mr. and Mrs. Bob) and four children: fifteen-year-old Claire, thirteen-year-old Martin, and Sheila, a two-year-old. For the five member-family, they form lifelong relationships bonded by blood. Also, members of the family form the basis for moral obligation. Hence, the children are morally obligated to respect their guardians who raise them from a tender age. Before Children become adults at Bob’s, they go through moral teachings and discipline as encouraged by the parents, which becomes the foundation of core values and norms bestowed.
Since the family is small, there is a more significant connection between the members. Children only get a strong sense of security from the parents and the siblings with minimal interaction with their extended family. There is a clear channel for solving the issues in case of conflict between siblings or with the children, strengthening the bonds. The guardians can also notice changes in behavior that seem to deviate from acceptable norms in the structure. Since there is no shifting of responsibilities as it would be in a joint family, it becomes easier to instill the need for commitment in their actions.
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Also, there is a balance of power within the structure, which minimizes misunderstandings. As Kirst-Ashman and Hull (2015) outline, power is relative, while others have more while others have less. However, for nuclear institutions, the father being the head of the house with assistance from the mother make decisions, thus indicating that every person knows their place. To some extent, children have their power, which they use to control how parents respond to situations. For example, toddlers throw themselves in the ground as a sign of rebellion or teenagers defying their parents to get what they want.
The family is in the child-rearing cycle. With two teenagers and two toddlers, they continue to learn about the children's needs, formulate ideologies, take care of their financial and emotional well-being. For instance, they drop children to school, pay tuition fees, and attend various games. Driessen (2013) agrees that parents adjust to children's financial needs in the child-rearing cycle while kids assume responsibility at school and within the community. Parents also communicate with the children, discipline support, and find ways to trust and give their youngsters freedom.
The family relies on consensual communication, encouraging exchanging thoughts and ideas but still gives parents the upper hand. Since teenagers and toddlers are being reared, the conversation includes encouraging expressive ideas. The form has positively impacted family dynamics in building relationships and minimizing conflict. Zarnaghash et al. (2012) argue that consensual communication positively impacts children's self-esteem and mental health since they are encouraged to express their feelings.
The teenagers are responsible for house chores: Martin and Clare clean utensils and the house on shifts. Hence if one does the dishes today, the other resumes on the vacuum. Such ensures that they are not overwhelmed or bored with one type of work. Bansal et al. (2014) outline that helping children take on different responsibilities helps them grow into adults that can make impactful decisions. Moreover, the roles benefit the family in keeping the space clean, minimizing conflict, and building survival skills.
Understanding cultural values would help social workers assess clients' beliefs, vital to understanding psychosocial history. As a family that values culture, it means they can formulate ways to be treated in line with the values and beliefs. Bent-Goodley et al. (2017) assert that social workers are mandated to ensure competency through comprehending cultural differences, which inform matters that should be addressed with respect and sensitivity.
Bob's family systems theory relies on an interactional communication perspective that allows feedback back and forth. In case of conflict or issues, they have a sit-down and have the ideal discussion. Parents interact with respect, set boundaries, and follow a set of standards. In cases of outbursts for the infants, they find ways to calm. Indeed, systems theory's emphasis on tracking the observable sequence making the self-perpetuating pattern (Johnson& Ray, 2016, p. 784). Therefore, the parents observe any change of behavior and discern any possible problem formation.
References
Bansal, S. B., Dixit, S., Shivram, G., Pandey, D., & Saroshe, S. (2014). A study to compare various aspects of members of joint and nuclear family. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences , 3 (03), 641-648.
Driessen, G. (2003). Family and child characteristics, child-rearing factors, and cognitive competence of young children. Early Child Development and Care , 173 (2-3), 323-339.
Johnson, B. E., & Ray, W. A. (2016). Family systems theory. Encyclopedia of family studies , 1-5.
Bent-Goodley, T., Fairfax, C. N., & Carlton-LaNey, I. (2017). The significance of African-centered social work for social work practice.
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2015). Understanding Generalist Practice (8th Ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning
Zarnaghash, M., & Farhadi, H. (2012). Study of the effect of family communication patterns on self-esteem in high school students of Shiraz. International Journal of Psychology , 47 .
