Personal Review of Ecological, Transactional, Systems, and Biopsychosocial-Cultural Theories

Personal Review of Ecological, System, and Cultural Contexts
Name
Institution
Personal Review of Ecological, System, and Cultural Contexts
Introduction
The realization of basic social developmental landmarks and the primary life events that normally come alongside them have a big effect on the developing person and that person’s transactions with the environment. In most cases, family and peer-group mezzo systems largely play a big role in the growth of children, their development and behavior. In children, social interaction offers the basis for the personality that an individual acquires in their adulthood. It is impossible for children and their families to operate in a vacuum. The existing macro systems within the environment such as communities, government institutions, and groups, can offer important resources to aid families in dealing with issues and get solutions for challenges that are mostly experienced by children. Imposing macro systems within the social environment can either help or prevent family members from attaining their full potential (Zastrow, & Kirst-Ashman, 2007). This paper presents the ecological, systems, and cultural contexts that have impacted my growth.
Socialization and the Family Environment
Socialization is the process through which children attain knowledge regarding the language, values, manners, regulations, and all the small, intricate pieces of information that are necessary to get by and flourish in a certain society. Even though socialization is a lifelong process, most of it takes place in childhood. Children acquire knowledge on how to interact with other individuals in the society. They must learn which behaviors are acceptable and the ones that are not. Since children are born without knowing anything, the most important socialization happens in childhood (Bardi, & Schwartz, 2003).
Since the lives of children are initially based within their families, the family environment plays an important role in shaping their lives. Ideally, each family environment is unique since each one of them is composed of different individuals. The differences between families happen in different ways with some families living in great opulence while others live in abject poverty. This has a great impact on the way that children from those families are brought up and their adulthood is greatly affected. The family environment in the United States has changed considerably with 77% of children not living with their biological parents. The family environment today is therefore diverse and affects the general upbringing of a child (Arnett, 2010).
Personally, I did not grow up with both my biological parents. In the first two years of my life, my mother was in a verbally and physically abusive relationship with my biological father. My mother was so hardworking and tried everything to fend for her children. My father was however abusive and an alcoholic. Both my parents grew up with their biological parents and it was evident that those parents influenced their upbringing. My grandfather from my father’s side was abusive towards his wife and children and an alcoholic. It was therefore not surprising that my father turned out to be an alcoholic. At the age of 5 year...