Introduction
The person chosen for this case study is Antwone Fisher, a young African American man who had lots of problems and even trauma during his childhood. The film “Antwone Fisher” perfectly depicts that. Antwone was born to a father he never knew and a mother who was imprisoned when he was a teenager, and as a result of this, his upbringing was not pleasant. His mother was imprisoned, and Antwone was moved to foster care only to face traumatic physical and emotional torture under the cruelties of his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tate. This abusive childhood was emotionally scarring for Antwone and ingrained in his mind feelings of abandonment and distrust. However, Antwone faced those obstacles with the ability to stand firm and the grit to overpower his past pains.
On the other hand, his adult life was also colored by his childhood experiences, even though he was trying to deal with the issues maturely. He manifested it in the form of anger issues, difficulties forming trusting relationships, and general emotional turmoil. The confrontations with these unfair situations are the one that triggers psychological crisis and, therefore, become the presenting problem for Antwone in terms of his need for therapeutic intervention and support to cope with his past traumas and take steps towards recovery and healing.
Explain key components of a chosen human behavior theory.
One of the leading human behavior theories that can be used for the study of the behavioral assessment, intervention, and evaluation of the case study of Antwone Fisher is the psychoanalytic theory. Analysis of the psychoanalytic doctrine, which the father of all analytical psychotherapy developed, Sigmund Freud, states the importance of unconscious processes in shaping human behavior. The psychodynamic theory asserts that childhood events and not-up-to-consciousness intentions and motivations result in personality development and behavior shaping. In the case of Antwone Fisher, the role of trauma as the primary determinant of his present behavior and overall well-being in adulthood would be considered critical factors (Iftikhar et al., 2020). From a psychoanalytic perspective, these experiences could have given rise to the development of defensive mechanisms like repression, denial, and projection that might be interpreted as his inability to develop trusting relationships and manage his emotions.
As for the assessment, the psychoanalytic approach implies exploring Antwon’s early childhood experiences, especially his relationship with his parents and caregivers, and the traumatic events he experienced. This approach plays a vital role in discovering the internal unconscious struggles and the needs that create the current problems! Take, for example, the exploration of Antwone’s memories and feelings about his mother’s imprisonment and the time he spent in foster care. These things should be considered when trying to understand the source of his emotional problems. A psychoanalytic approach is proposed to bring factors into conscious awareness through free association, dream analysis, and transference analysis to uncover the unresolved conflicts and motives as the dreams of the patients being symbolism directed toward the unconscious mind. By assisting Antwone in developing self-awareness by understanding the underlying reasons for his behaviors and emotions, therapy can teach him new strategies for dealing with and interacting with others. For example, counseling may enable Antwone to realize how his past affects his present way of relating, and consequently, he will learn constructive approaches to relationships.
As for evaluation, the psychoanalytic approach would include an assessment of how the therapy has assisted Antwone in gaining insight into unconscious conflicts and obtaining more functional coping strategies. However, the outcome would also entail assessing any changes in Antwone’s behavior and emotional functioning during the therapy. As an illustration, the appraisal would gauge whether Antwone is more trustworthy in relationships or has better ways of dealing with emotions (Hajjar, 2022). The psychoanalytic approach is a wide-ranging and integrated theory for handling the complicated psychological problems of individuals who have suffered highly traumatic events in their childhood. By identifying the unconscious processes and analyzing early childhood experiences, the psychoanalytic theory could aid individuals in discovering the root of their behavior and developing more adaptive responses.
Assess the chosen character from developmental and person-in-environment perspectives.
A theory that deals with the development of childhood is the psychosocial theory of Erik Erikson, as it is applied to the case study of Antwone Fisher. Erikson, on his part, described people going through eight stages of development, each with a psychological crisis that must be handled in order to have a healthy personality. Antwone’s early life episodes molded him into a rampage of desertion, abuse, and neglect, which falls in line with the stage of trust versus the world. Mistrust which is rooted in infancy (Hajjar, 2022). At this phase, however, infants learn to start trusting their caregivers in that they are reliable and consistent. However, a long-term consequence of Antwone’s abandonment by his mother and getting abused by his foster family may be that he might have developed a sense of mistrust and insecurity, which may curtail his ability to trust others in adulthood.
Antwone’s social network consists of people like the Navy, which gave him structure to build discipline, and Jerome Davenport, who provided him with emotional support and guidance. He faced many obstacles as well, for instance, through the terrible foster care system, which did not give him the support and stable environment he needed. Furthermore, Antwone’s intersectionality as an African American man brings another level of complexity, which implies that as a man, he may be prone to systemic racism and discrimination that could hinder him even further in development and access to support systems. However, accessing health services remains a challenge for him. Nevertheless, he exhibits resilience and strength, as demonstrated when he seeks the help of a therapist and faces his traumatic past. Experiences have created limitations for him, too, such as mistrust, managing his emotions, and so on, that keep making a difference in his life to this day.
Develop an intervention based on a selected human behavior theory.
As illustrated by the case of Antwone Fisher, such an approach as a person-centered intervention suits a person’s specific needs, which focuses on being empathic and providing a safe environment for self-discovery. Carl Rogers’ person-centered approach ensures that individuals can develop self-awareness and personal growth through unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness. For Antwone, this action can be a transformative experience in dealing with his past traumas and achieving self-fulfillment and more assertiveness. In the short run, there might be targets, such as creating trust with his therapist and learning skills to help him regulate his emotions. The long-term goals of the session could be centered on developing self-compassion and acknowledging how early childhood experiences shape his sudden behavior and ideas. A systems approach to this intervention would be more insightful as Antwone would be pictured as part of a more extensive system, which includes Antwone’s relations with the family, friends, and the Navy and societal influences. This approach can be more comprehensive and efficient by dealing with systemic factors. Cultural competence is also essential as it ensures that the intervention is tailored to Antwone’s cultural background. Caliskan and Wade (2022) have as one of their key focuses the importance of social theory when designing interventions sensitive to the individual’s cultural environment. Such information would be vital in the case of Antwone, a black American.
Evaluate a chosen human behavior theory:
The person-centered theory, an essential concept of Antwone Fisher’s case, displays several strengths. Its focus on the healing relationship and providing a secure, non-judgmental setting perfectly matches his need for trust and openness. However, there is a limitation in its less directive method that may lack the needed structure for people with complicated trauma histories, including Antwone (Mascari, 2021). Different from cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT), which can be more structured and focused, the goal is to change the negative pattern of thoughts and behavior. CBT’s structured nature will probably help Antwone to develop some concrete coping skills and to dispute his cognitive distortions, which he unperceptively consolidated in the process of his childhood experiences. There is a reason we chose a person-centered approach instead of cognitive behavioral therapy; of the two, the former focuses on the therapeutic relationship, which is very important in Antwone’s case, given his history of mistrust and abuse.
Additionally, the person-centered approach differs from the CBT in that it is more consonant with Antwone’s current requirements for self-exploration and approval. In contrast, the latter is instead controlling by nature. The cultural competency of the person-centered plan is tested against these values, as evident in the respect to individual differences that it promotes and the self-actualization it creates, both of which are culturally significant. Nonetheless, the theory’s individualistic orientation might need to be revised to consider the role of culture in creating the worldview, resulting in the limited relevance of the theory in culturally diverse contexts. Notwithstanding, the therapy will be necessary for Antwone to receive a culturally competent therapist who understands and respects his African American roots. So, the person-centered approach will be tailored to fit Antwone and address his unique experiences and needs, making it a relevant and valuable choice in his case.
Explain the value of chosen theories in personal social work practice.
The person-centered and cognitive-behavioral theories are beneficial in terms of the social and personal work practice. The person-centered theory emphasizes building a strong, unconditional therapeutic relationship in social work practice, which is associated with the trust and empowerment of clients. It aligns with the basic principles of social work, which accentuates client power and is situation-specific. Moreover, cognitive-behavioral theory offers practical tools to handle specific matters, such as those with negative thinking and behaviors, giving sessions structured for individual and family usage. Through the application of these theories into practice, social workers increase their capacity to relate to clients, comprehend their experience, and improve the means by which they deliver the necessary services that lead to positive outcomes. In addition, these theories heavily emphasize cultural competency, and social work practitioners are urged to consider the cultural factors their clients may belong to and how they may affect how the clients would experience and understand social phenomena. This relational approach is paramount to social work practice, as it secures intervention effects that are culturally respectful and empowering to the clients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the case of Antwone Fisher shows that trauma-informed care and culturally competent interventions are the cornerstones of social work practice. Antwone’s trials and tribulations show the lasting influences that childhood trauma has and the significance of tackling the underlying problems that the symptoms of adults have. The person-centered approach underscores empathy, respect, and collaboration in the client’s work, letting the practitioner see the client holistically. Cognitive-behavior interventions will be beneficial in showing people like Antwone the way forward by challenging their negative thinking patterns and developing coping strategies. Secondly, evaluations based on the developmental and person-in-environment perspectives emphasize how individual development and environment factors are entirely dynamic instead of a single factor. Understanding the client’s identity and culture is a vital first step for the social workers to begin molding their interventions that suit the client’s culture and level of understanding. In summary, Antwone Fisher’s case exemplifies the need for a comprehensive approach that revolves around integrating evidence-based practices with insights into the client’s lived experiences to facilitate healing, empowerment, and resilience.
References
Caliskan, K., & Wade, M. (2022). DARN (Part 1): What Is Strategic Design? Social Theory and Intangible Design in Perspective. She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, 8(3), 299–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sheji.2022.10.001
Espinosa, G., Redling, E., & Stevens, J. (2023). Protestants on Screen: Religion, Politics, and Aesthetics in European and American Movies. In Google Books. Oxford University Press. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=oYfQEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=antwone+fisher+film+-+analyzed+chosen+theories&ots=1hMB7i_2VU&sig=bpognpGQ_GiRrwOWgxDWwUaPzNo
Hajjar, R. M. (2022). Teaching and Learning through Cinematic Images of the Military. Resmilitaris, 12(2), 2854–2870. https://resmilitaris.net/menu-script/index.php/resmilitaris/article/view/382
Iftikhar, H., Shah, P., & Luximon, Y. (2020). Human wayfinding behavior and metrics in complex environments: a systematic literature review. Architectural Science Review, pp. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2020.1777386
Mascari, L. (2021). The Afro-Brazilian Martial Art of Capoeira: Cultural Healing and Identity. Theses and Dissertations. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/2699/