Multi Level Factors Influencing The Individual Theology Religion Essay Example

It took him some time to realize that his marriage had ended. He then entered into a failed relationship with his second wife, whom he described as lazy and lacking ambition. They had two children together before mutually agreeing to divorce.

Afterwards, Gerald met Maureen, who has been his partner for 32 years (married for 25). He believes that she is his soulmate and means everything to him. Maureen has one child from a previous marriage whom he gets along well with. Both Gerald and Maureen have a policy of not interfering in their children's relationships, which is reciprocated by their children showing them the same respect. They hold genuine respect for each other.

Post-military service, Gerald pursued a career as a Respiratory technician while also holding multiple secondary jobs. These additional jobs allowed him to afford expensive personal items that brought him joy through dressing impressively. He has a strong connection with his children and they sometimes seek his advice. Gerald tries not to meddle in their personal lives but they all support one another.
Gerald's children and stepchildren have a strong relationship and come together for family gatherings. As he ages, Gerald finds it particularly difficult because it means losing loved ones. Sadly, one of his sons passed away from a drug overdose, which took him quite some time to overcome the grief of losing a child. Prior to his son's death, Gerald was aware of his involvement in illegal activities and always tried to reason with him. Whenever his son got arrested, Gerald would bail him out except for one occasion when he chose not to do so. This led to his son serving three

years in prison. Gerald treasures photographs of his late son and occasionally reflects on their conversations during that time.

Regrettably, Gerald is unaware of the cause of death of his brother who died in London. On the other hand, his sister passed away from natural causes despite battling several illnesses. Gerald emphasizes that he had a close bond with both siblings who looked up to him dearly. He deeply misses them along with his deceased son. Fortunately, living approximately 15 minutes away from him allowed frequent visits and conversations between Gerald and his sister.

Gerald remains actively engaged in various aspects of life. He dedicates quality time to spend with family members, volunteers at a preschool center, and faithfully attends church alongside his wife. Additionally, he enjoys attending events organized by family and friends where they sing, dance, and share meals together.

Moreover, Gerald makes it a priority to partake in activities with his grandchildren such as playing basketball and footballIn addition, he tends to his garden with his wife. Although Gerald only consumes alcohol occasionally, he regularly takes medication for High Blood Pressure and maintains overall good health. The ecological systems theory offers valuable insights into how various factors influence an individual's life from an ecological perspective. Interactions among system-level elements such as the immediate environment (home and school), policies, cultural influences, and development are interconnected. In the field of social work practice, applying an ecological approach involves evaluating individuals, families, cultures, and communities to identify strengths and weaknesses in their system interactions. By analyzing Gerald's multiple system levels using the Ecological theory (Greene 1999), we can better understand how these factors impact each other and ultimately

shape his behavior. The societal environment includes the physical settings where individuals engage with others like groups, organizations, authorities, friends, and family members. In Gerald's case specifically, these interactions occurred within his military service, church community, school environment,
household dynamics,
friendship circle,
and employment setting.
These examples demonstrate the significance of these environments in Gerald's development.
On a smaller scale,
the focus is on individual needs,
challenges,
strengths
and how one navigates them along with decision-making processes (Bronfenbrenner 1994).Within this system, Gerald's closest friends and family members, including his mother, grandmother, and uncle, are present. Additionally, friends from his community and school are included. This reciprocal system demonstrates the influence of children by their environment while also influencing it themselves (Bronfenbrenner 1994). Instances such as Gerald's two divorces illustrate the interaction between these different layers where communication played a role in ending those marriages. The intermediate level focuses on Gerald's relationships with family and social groups. Interactions with other social groups like church and school hold significance as they impact individuals (Greene 1999). Gerald actively engages in various activities to keep busy. The intermediate system explains that individuals interact with those close to them while learning to connect, communicate, and compete. He frequently discusses the importance of dressing better than others his age and compliments women in the office on their attire. Furthermore, he suggests that other women within the building should improve their dress style. The Macro system pertains to larger societal, political, and economic conditions that may indirectly affect him by impacting his resources and quality of life (Harkonen 2007). As a retired veteran entitled to health benefits, he believes he doesn't need them due to receiving other health benefits.Despite his frequent

drinking, Gerald maintains contact with many local officials and is recognized by community members. However, he receives negative feedback from his wife due to excessive alcohol consumption. People have informed him that he smells of alcohol at volunteer places, but he does not openly acknowledge or discuss it. It is unclear whether Gerald is aware that I know about his drinking habits. On the other hand, his wife provides positive feedback by encouraging him to engage with our school community, which prevents him from staying home and drinking excessively. This allows him to socialize more often and leave the house. These examples demonstrate Gerald's interactions within his environment (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). The women in the office enjoy being around him, and he appears to enjoy their company as well. These instances illustrate how Gerald interacts with those around him within his environment (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Despite facing two failed marriages and the loss of a child, Gerald finds love again and remarries while managing to adapt well in various situations despite his drinking habits. Moreover, there is an energy that encompasses both input and output energy where output energy refers to the positive feedback received from friends and family. He consistently compliments his friends and gets along well with colleagues at schoolGerald's pleasant personality and optimistic outlook on life also earn him praise from women in the office. Erickson's theory, as outlined by Goldstein (1984), consists of "eight consecutive phases". This theory builds upon Freud's ideas but expands on them by adding three additional phases focused on human growth rather than just psychosexual development. Erickson emphasizes that each phase is essential for healthy

development as individuals navigate through crises to progress to subsequent phases (Goldstein, 1984). According to Erickson, social interaction plays a crucial role in identity formation and self-esteem development which are shaped by life experiences and interactions with others (Goldstein, 1984). Individual behaviors are influenced by a sense of competency, leading to a feeling of accomplishment. A prime example is Gerald who feels accomplished and lives without worries. Erickson's first phase, called "Basic Trust V. Basic Misgiving," forms the foundation of one's personality occurring from birth until one year old (Goldstein, 1984). During this stage, infants develop trust in their mother as their needs are met (Goldstein, 1984, p.94). Gerald had a positive relationship with his mother and grandmother being raised by both. While serving in the Marines he entrusted his income to his mother and saved money for future goals.The second phase is Autonomy vs.Shame and Doubt when individuals learn personal control and independence through managing bodily functions.This text emphasizes the importance of promoting security and self-assurance in children. It mentions Gerald, an individual who is confident and does not complain. He values his quality of life and keeps himself occupied with work. Gerald is independent and capable of handling everything on his own. Both he and his wife possess cooking skills.

The text also discusses the third stage of development, known as Initiative vs. Guilt, where individuals learn to assert power and maintain control over others through social interactions and dramatic situations. They model themselves after their parents to establish a connection with them while regulating their egos (Robbins et al., 2012, p.215). Parents play a crucial role in teaching children their roles and appropriate

behavior.

Gerald received guidance from his mother, grandmother, and uncle regarding acceptable behaviors from a young age. He understood the consequences of his actions early on. During the Initiative vs.Guilt stage, children learn to set goals and fantasize about the future (Goldstein, 1984, p.92).

Despite her pleas for him not to go, Gerald desired to enlist in the Marines even before discussing it with his mother. He sought his grandmother's assistance in helping her understand his strong determinationIn the fourth stage, known as Industry vs. Inferiority, individuals develop a sense of pride by integrating their emotions and cultivating playfulness and cognitive skills (Berzoff, Flanagan & Hertz 2011,p106). If children experience racism, it can lead to feelings of inferiority and jeopardize their relationships. Gerald, an African American who was born during the era of segregation, was fortunate enough to attend school without negative influences. He recalls having white friends visit his home. When Gerald joined the Marines, he encountered no racial tensions among his fellow servicemen as they were taught to stick together. During adolescence's Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, individuals explore and establish their identity through various roles. Right after high school, Gerald enlisted in the Marines for eight years before returning home. Throughout his career, he worked in hospitals as a respiratory technician and later served as a security officer in casinos and a nursing home manager.

In the stage of Intimacy vs.Isolation, young adults focus on building careers, socializing with the opposite sex, and forming intimate relationships (Robbins et al., 2012). Failing at this stage can lead to difficulties in forming meaningful relationships and isolation. During high school, Gerald had multiple girlfriends and eventually got married

and started a familyIn Phase 8 - Ego Integrity V. Despair, individuals reflect on their life and evaluate their overall satisfaction while considering their accomplishments and achievements. Gerald expresses contentment with his achievements and has no regrets. He finds contentment in his health and the presence of a loyal companion, recognizing that he has no control over God's plans for him. Gerald believes that happiness is not lacking in his life.

According to Fowler's Faith Theory, spirituality plays a crucial role in an individual's biopsychosocial profile by shaping values and establishing societal norms. Research suggests that spirituality significantly influences how individuals evaluate their strengths and limitations. Fowler's theory explores the correlation between religion and an individual's perception of themselves and the world around them.

Faith is defined as one's way of relating to oneself, others, and the universe (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2012). Religion provides meaning, purpose, loyalty, and trust among individuals (Robbins et al., 2012). Gerald places great importance on religion; he faithfully attends church every Sunday and enjoys family dinners afterward. From childhood onwards, Gerald's mother and grandmother instilled the significance of church within their family. As a child, he regularly attended church services at his mother's insistence and even joined the choirAs a parent himself, Gerald strives to impart the same values and beliefs he was taught to his own children through conversations centered around faith, while also encouraging them to honor God. According to the Faith Development theory, children typically enter the Mythic-literal Faith phase at around age six, when they start forming their own values and beliefs. The family plays a vital role in shaping these beliefs by teaching children about right

and wrong. Gerald's religious family actively participated in church activities, including the choir, which instilled respect in him. During adolescence, specifically in the Synthetic-Conventional Faith stage (Phase 4), individuals have the opportunity to contemplate life's purpose and establish personal connections with the world. Despite his mother's objections, Gerald found purpose by enlisting in the Marines – something he confided to his grandmother. Spirituality is considered essential for coping with death, trauma, and dying according to Gray (2008). It provides guidance on moral values and living a fulfilling life. The church has been a source of support for Gerald during times of loss and when dealing with close relationships. Spirituality helps individuals find their life purpose (Gray, 2008) and allows them to focus on living each day as it comes without worrying about the future - an emphasis that Gerald strongly promotes.

Attachment Theory

Attachment Theory posits that children require a caregiver in order to develop socially and emotionally. The quality of their relationship with this caregiver significantly impacts their overall growth. How a child forms attachments also influences their future adult relationships. Furthermore, during childhood, a child's perceptions, emotions, and thoughts about others shape how they interact in later relationships.

It is important to note that children can form strong bonds with caregivers other than just their mothers. This was evident in Gerald's case when his grandmother played a crucial role in raising him and fostering a close bond. Additionally, he had strong attachments to both his father and uncle.

In the absence of his father, Gerald's uncle stepped in as a father figure and ensured that household rules were followed. Despite not having his father physically present, Gerald

still formed a bond through frequent phone conversations and receiving guidance from him. This allowed them to connect on a deeper level. When his father was around, they bonded by playing basketball and football together.

Interestingly enough, these same behaviors are now reflected in Gerald's relationships with his own children and grandchildren. Building secure attachments with primary caregivers offers numerous benefits for children including increased confidence and self-assurance within themselves.Feeling secure is beneficial for navigating future intimate relationships and reducing jealousy towards loved ones. Gerald's strong bonds with his mother and grandmother provided him with a sense of security, leading to complete trust in his wife. Like Gerald, individuals with secure attachments tend to have positive social interactions and easily form friendships.

The strengths perspective approach in social work emphasizes the importance of utilizing clients' strengths and resources to help them achieve their goals. However, when individuals are employed, they often focus solely on the immediate issue instead of exploring new approaches or alternative solutions.

Social workers using the strengths perspective analyze clients' skills such as endurance, coping ability, capabilities, knowledge, and abilities to assist them in reaching their goals. This approach is applied during the initial contact with the client to collaboratively identify goals with the social worker. The assessment and intervention then focus on addressing the client's needs and aspirations since every person has potential for growth and change.

The Strengths Perspective framework is used to understand Gerald based on his strengths, abilities, motivations, knowledge, and available resources (Guo & Tsui 2010).The text demonstrates how Gerald overcame challenges in his life and emphasizes the bravery of individuals (Robbins et al., 2012). The Strengths Perspective suggests that individuals

can overcome challenges by utilizing resources within their social environment. People have the ability to learn, grow, and change. In Gerald's case, applying the Strengths Perspective involves considering the resources available to him. These include completing high school education, attending church services on Sundays, participating in sports and activities at school and church, receiving support from his household while serving in the military, witnessing his enlistment in the armed forces and eventually accepting it by his mother who helped him save money during his service. This experience allowed him to become certified as a Respiratory Technician and receive a military pension and health benefits. Now he has access to services provided by the Veteran Administration (VA). According to Grief & Loss Theory, everyone experiences different types of loss and grieves in their own way. The intensity of grief may vary. It is normal to feel sorrow when faced with a loss. Individuals must adjust to their new reality knowing that the person they lost will no longer be present.Kubler-Ross' (1997) five stages of grief model is frequently used to help dying patients and individuals dealing with personal trauma cope with death, mourning, and emotional adaptation. This model assists in acknowledging the importance of each individual's unique journey towards acceptance and coping with the loss of loved ones. Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2012) state that not everyone will go through all stages of grief according to Kubler-Ross' model. Gerald experienced the loss of his mother, brother, sister, and tragically, his 34-year-old son. During the Rage and Anger stage, individuals may question why such tragedy has occurred and feel angry. Initially, Gerald directed his anger towards his son

for not sorting out his life before passing away (Walter, 2009).During the Acceptance stage, individuals eventually acknowledge and accept their loss in order to effectively cope with it (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2012). Minimizing the impact on their lives is crucial to prevent the development of depression. Going through the grieving process is important for a healthy future as it allows individuals to mourn and come to terms with their loss. The time it takes for someone to mourn a lost love holds significance as reminders of the loss can evoke memories and emotions related to the person they have lost.

In my conversation about grief, he mentioned that time helps him cope with his sorrow. He still holds onto images of his son and occasionally looks at them, which brings back memories of their conversations and playing basketball together.

During my interview with this older adult, I gained insight into various theories that can be applied in understanding an individual's behavior. The concepts of ecological perspective and systems theory were emphasized as important tools in understanding an individual's environment and potential risk factors. It was clear how early childhood experiences influence decisions made in adulthood based on his own behaviors influenced by his parents' actions such as his love for music and attending church.

Despite being 75 years old, he appears younger due to taking good care of himself and maintaining high levels of energy like an adolescent.He insists on staying busy throughout the day. Initially, I was worried about his reluctance to open up during our conversation. However, as we continued talking, he gradually started sharing more about his personal life. Despite my hope for more information,

he remained somewhat hesitant when I asked personal questions, possibly because his wife works for the school district. Interestingly, when he let his guard down, he unintentionally revealed more than intended. This experience has shown me how clients may be hesitant to discuss their personal lives and reminded me of the importance of social workers being empathetic towards their emotions.

The interview gave valuable insights into the clinical role of social workers when working with individuals. It emphasized the need to assess clients' overall development and identify areas where they may need help. As social workers, it is our responsibility to help clients recognize their problems and find solutions and strategies to address them. We support clients by connecting them with resources and advocating for their rights because we are committed to promoting social justice. To effectively assist clients in various ways, we consider different theories that inform our practice. Personally, I have a strong inclination towards supporting others.
As a generalist social worker, I may not have the power to single-handedly change the world. However, I can still support individuals in acknowledging their strengths and making use of available resources to enrich their lives. In our role, we aid clients in enhancing their job skills by utilizing the resources present in their surroundings.