Self Analysis: Intimacy Versus Isolation

Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by people of the same ethnic race and culture. I was raised in the small city of Temple City where a lot of older generation Asian immigrants resided, which resulted in my schools being mostly dominated by the first generation Asian American population. Because of this similarity of race and culture with my peers, it was fairly easy for me to bond with other students as well as feel comfortable within the realms of my schools and neighborhood. I had little trouble learning and participating in classrooms and also was able to be very involved in leadership positions in extracurricular programs at my high school which was a good learning experience for me.

While practicing social work it is important to understand how an individual’s system and environment can

Social workers must strive “for a full understanding of the complex interactions between the client and all levels of the social and physical system as well as meaning that the client assigns to each of these interactions” (Andreae, 1996, p. 605).

“Social phenomena are any external influences on living organisms. These influences include behavioral influences, historical influences and developmental influences” ("Reference.com," 2017). Social workers’ work with individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities (Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, & Strom-Gottfried, 2016). Social workers use contrasting theories of human behavior in addition to the implementation of diverse interventions while interacting and serving a wide range of clientele.

Social work professions need to understand the importance of how individuals interact both with other people and their environment, to have an understanding how individuals are affected by these interactions (Rogers, p. 2). According to Rogers (2016), “Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course; the range of social systems in which people live; and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development (p. 2). Their work with clients begins with assessments to evaluations of intervention and is based in and supports of the core value system of the profession.

As a Social Worker, I have had the opportunity to work with children and families from diverse socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. My experience and training includes extensive work with prenatal, infant and early childhood education and development. Through this course I have been able to

These ideas, often building upon the familiar concepts of the stage-based developmental patterns, will be presented in a later portion of this chapter. Social workers commonly work within community-serving agencies, while seeking to help people who often have few choices about the conditions under which essential human needs are met. In this role, we must ensure that every protection is given the client and that his or her helplessness is not exploited (Spencer, 1961). “Certainly, in the light of the high value the social work profession has always placed upon the client’s right to solve his [or her] own problems in the way that seems right to him [or her], it is assumed that any considerations of the social worker’s role in the area of religion would be set in this context” (pp. 519-520). Definitions The roots of social work contain many religious and spiritually based components, lending motivation, direction, foundation, and location for social service provision. When approaching the issue of spiritual

I went to a middle school that was not very diverse. Walking into my classes, I never saw another student that looked like me or came from the same place as me. There was only one other Indian kid that went to my middle school and we were put into different groups. Therefore, it was hard for me to find a group of friends to hangout with because I was different from everyone else. Eddie also was put into the same situation because he was not able to find anyone like him at his school. However, over time I broke out of my shell and made new friends just like Eddie. We both went through a stage where we did not want to go to school because

Working with subjects as young as 18 months old, in the psychology research lab, has taught me the importance of providing a comfortable environment for the participant. I feel that it is the same idea for Social workers; in order for someone to

Erikson’s stage that I am choosing to explore is the sixth stage, known as intimacy vs isolation. This is the stage when young people learn to make personal commitment to another spouse, parent, or partner. Throughout this stage, one also tends to seek love. One starts to wonder whether he or she will be loved or will he or she be alone. Ideally, this relates to my own personal life because recently, I tried to pursue a relationship with someone who did not have interest me. These feelings developed based off my interpretation of love. When I venture out to find love, I look for someone who offers me happiness. As a result of my own beliefs, I thought this person liked me back. Little did I know, I was totally wrong. This accusation resulted in me creating

Adam is a nineteen-year-old male, unemployed, in debt and cannot afford to maintain his independence. According to Erickson life stage, Adam is in intimacy and isolation life stage. It is a point where Adam should be able to form meaningful relationships and share intimacy with others; this could lead to Adam finding his identity and being comfortable in a relationship. Adam needs a sense of safety, commitment and care in a relationship and this may result in being able to form an emotional connection and loving someone. Erickson also suggested that if Adam avoids intimacy, commitment, and forming relationships could lead to isolation, loneliness and sometimes depression. Erikson implied that when individuals follow the development stages,

Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development states that in order to find intimacy and know "who you are," you must resolve your conflict in the "Identity vs. Role Confusion" Stage. Some individuals who never find true love can be thought of as not having successfully completed the stage. They never resolved their conflict thereby resulting in role confusion. Fromm states that in order to love, you must have self-love. How can you love yourself, if you don’t know "who you are?" This is what I feel creates the possessive love, the hurtful love, and the love that is taken for granted. It’s the one nightstand; "I’ll call you" love.

The development theory chosen was Erik Erikson psychosocial development. The focus was on two of the eight stages, which includes adolescents (12 to 18 years) - identity vs. identity diffusion, and young adults (18 to 35 years) - intimacy vs. isolation. According to Papalia, Feldman, & Martorell (2012), Erik Erikson stated that during the identity vs. identity diffusion stage, the adolescent must determine own sense of self. Development at this point in life depends on what a person does. On the other hand, young adults seek to make commitment to others during the intimacy vs. isolation stage. This stage is where people tend to seek compassion and love. The group decided to use Erikson 's theory as a guide in choosing the focus group because it seems that this is the stage where individuals are more acceptable to new knowledge and change.

It was once stated by an unknown author, “ Friends are made by heart, not by skin color.” This quote is clearly depicted in the novella The Heroic Slave and in our world today. When a child begins to grow up and start to make friends, they are attracted to any person that will interact with them no matter the color of their skin. But when that child becomes older, fully understands world issues, and starts to leap towards adulthood they begin to realize that everyone does not look or act the same as one another. Occasionally, children will pick up on how their parents treat others of a different race and choose to mimic their parents reactions unknowingly. If children are choosing to follow in their parents footsteps, racism will increase and interracial friendship will decrease. In a CNN case study, it was said that sixty-six percent of non-white people say that racism and prejudices are a huge deal in America. It is hard for a plethora people to see the benefits of interracial friendships because many are already prejudice against different races in their hearts. If the generation’s of today can change the outlook on this type of friendship, the prejudice rates will decline. Even though some believe that you cannot connect with people of a different race, interracial friendships have a strong and more unique bond.

Moreover, in the psychological development in the young adult stage Erickson 's physiological theory involves intimacy