Dysfunctional Family Roles
Society has a prescribed set of behaviors that all people are expected to portray. Abiding by the expected social norms is considered normal, while deviating from such rules is termed as dysfunctional. A family is a significant pillar in society as it serves as the foundational level at which social, cultural, and behavioral principles are taught to children. This video was centered on dysfunctional families and the roles they play in substance abuse. As would be expected, a child growing up in a dysfunctional family may suffer emotionally and socially. Dysfunctional families have become an issue of concern, especially due to the increased number of youngsters involved in drug abuse. James (2017) structured this video to include the meaning of dysfunctional, highlight the characteristics of a dysfunctional family, and the four roles an individual may take.
After defining what a dysfunctional family is, James (2017) went ahead to discuss the causes and effects of dysfunctional families. Ideally, a dysfunctional family may be a result of addiction from drug and substance abuse or abusive behavior. Although these are the main causes, it is important to understand that abusive behavior is not tied to physical abuse. It could be mental or emotional turmoil that causes one to behave in an improper way according to society’s expectations. While some may feel that they have not engaged in substance abuse or abuse, the author argues that every family is dysfunctional. There is no such thing as a perfect family since, in every family, you are bound to have that one member whose behavior is contrary to social norms. Therefore, this video is important for everyone.
The four roles outlined by James (2017) describe typical behavior that may be exhibited by individuals living in dysfunctional families. It happens that although people may suffer from the same conditions, their reactions determine which role they play. Some struggle hard to make a positive impression while hiding their pain (hero), while others may just give in to the abuse and get lost. The author’s intention in highlighting these roles is to prove their point that everyone lives in a dysfunctional family at some point in their lives (James, 2017). Sometimes, a person may play two of these roles at different times while trying to achieve their purpose in regard to the abuse or addiction affecting them.
The Hero
According to James (2017), the hero is a role played by many people in dysfunctional families who are portrayed as perfect role models and are given all the praise and accolade in the family. However, contrary to what many people may think, these individuals suffer from hidden control issues and the fear of failure. Most times, they sacrifice a lot to make a positive impression. The relationship between dysfunctional families and the portrayal of the hero role is that when parents have children doing well, they may use them to justify their parental roles. For instance, they may argue that since their child is doing well, they may not be bad parents. However, the struggles that heroes go through may lead them to substance abuse or abusive behavior if not addressed early.
The Scapegoat
According to James (2017), the hero is a role played by many people in dysfunctional families who are portrayed as perfect role models and are given all the praise and accolade in the family. However, contrary to what many people may think, these individuals suffer from hidden control issues and the fear of failure. Most times, they sacrifice a lot to make a positive impression. The relationship between dysfunctional families and the portrayal of the hero role is that when parents have children doing well, they may use them to justify their parental roles. For instance, they may argue that since their child is doing well, they may not be bad parents. However, the struggles that heroes go through may lead them to substance abuse or abusive behavior if not addressed early.
The Lost Child
The lost child is seen as the one who doesn’t need any attention at all. They appear to be disciplined enough to do what they have to do, even if they may not like it (James, 2017). In most cases, they will not be found in any trouble that calls for discipline, but they are also not good enough to receive praise. What many people may not know about this role is that they have decided to hide their feelings because they feel left out. This connects to the dysfunctional family because when parents decide to classify the children into heroes and scapegoats, they tend to ignore the other children who need to be nurtured. The lost child may very likely engage in substance abuse as they seek something to identify with.
The Mascot
The mascot is one character that cannot miss in a family. In the middle of negative differences and sometimes quarrels, the mascot always brings relief with their comic behavior. They try to keep everyone happy while hiding their pain and sorrows inside. They are an essential part of the family because they act as agents of peace and restore unity temporarily in the family. This role connects to the dysfunctional family because the mascot is acting as the funny person to avoid aggravating the dysfunctional issues in the family. They acknowledge the problems in the family and try to solve them by entertaining others.
Implementation of the Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery
When families are engaged in substance abuse, children are likely to suffer from related substance abuse disorders. The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, in collaboration with SAMHSA and the Children’s Bureau, developed a program to help children recover from substance abuse disorders. The webinar was meant to inform all stakeholders of the need to implement this program to facilitate family recovery (SAMHSA, 2015). The nurturing program was founded on evidence-based practices that are proven effective and applicable to every family struggling with disorders and addiction associated with drug abuse.
The Nurturing Program
When giving the overview of the webinar, the speaker commented that the nurturing program is focused on families that need help to recover from the effects of substance abuse. The program has been well-structured to include all the elements that facilitate well-being in families and the factors that need to be mitigated. The components addressed include mental health, child development, substance use, and parenting (SAMHSA, 2015). This is logical, bearing in mind that substance abuse inhibits a child’s healthy growth and development and significantly affects their mental well-being.
Purpose and Guiding Values of the Nurturing Program
According to SAMHSA (2015), the nurturing program was developed as an all-around recovery plan to help families get treatment for the complications resulting from substance abuse, strengthen the child-parent relationship and help parents deal with the numerous challenges affecting them. In essence, the purpose was to facilitate healing, recovery, and continuous improvement in the affected families. To enable the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare to attain its goals, it formulated a set of values to guide them in the process. They believe that the program should foster recovery and respect for all, including self, others, and society. These values are essential because they give the organization a platform on which they can evaluate their progress and develop effective measures. The component of fun is also integrated to make the implementation process easy and enjoyable for all involved parties.
Implementation Challenges
Every implementation program is bound to have some challenges. In this case, scheduling the meetings and timing every activity to align with the available programs was cited as a significant challenge. Again, it was noted that childcare and language barriers might limit the successful implementation of the program (SAMHSA, 2015). When dealing in groups, the facilitators identified that participants failed to identify themselves as substance users, making it hard to communicate the program effectively to them. In such a program, skilled professionals would need to be recruited to facilitate the program implementation. However, hiring and retaining these professionals is challenging.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the two videos assigned highlighted the importance of nurturing families suffering from substance abuse and related disorders. The implementation program focuses on mental health, child development, and parent-child relationships, which could all result from dysfunctional families.
References
James, R. (2017). Dysfunctional family roles | hero? Scapegoat? Mascot? Lost child [Video]. YouTube. Web.
SAMHSA. (2015). Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery [Video]. YouTube. Web.