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The following essay will bring forth the concept of adoption through the systematic use of the Bowen system in looking at family dynamics. Through the Bowen theory adoption issues such as problems that may occur during an adoption, why people should adopt early and the positive and negative of adoption will be dissected. According to Murray Bowen, ones development of self is determined by the interactions that one receives during ones lifetime. The influence of family and social groups combine with ones inherent building blocks of self to create the whole self. (Bowen) Thus, a child who is adopted usually does better socially and mentally when they are adopted earlier in life so that they have no fluctuations in adaptation to environment to undergo. As a person develops, they are exposed to the influences, both positive and negative, of social groups. These influences trigger, within the person, a reaction that then defines that segment of the persons personality.
The level of influence that affects a certain person depends on the degree to which that person has already developed. For example, a person who has a highly developed sense of self would feel little influence from a peer group, reciprocally; one who has an underdeveloped sense of self would find a great amount of influence from social interaction: Thus, again it may be witnessed that the adoption process is best suited for early arrivals since the socialization period for a child may be difficult especially if a child had been a previous foster care child in which several various homes had been the frame of reference of living arrangements. The Bowen Theory regards psychological health as the level to which one has developed ones own self. The adjustment of an individual to a social circle creates a differentiation within ones psychological profile. The level of this differentiation then constitutes ones level of health within the group. In a family situation for adoption, an agency is more likely to state that the formation of identity for a child is best done at an early age.
Several reasons that people may adopt a child could be that a family member, and the guardian of the child has remarried and the new step parent wishes to be named the childs guardian as well. This is done so that in case one parent dies the adoptive parent would gain custody, for financial reasons, and if the child wishes it to be so. Typically a person will approach an adoption agency and be placed on a waiting list in which different countries may even be scouted out for potential adoption options. The people or person who wants to adopt a child will often times wait an extended amount of time prior to receiving a child. The agency will examine the person (s) who are the potential parent (s) and ensure a healthy and stable environment for the child before any adoption actually occurs. The goal of the Bowen Systems Theory is to integrate an individual who has a stunted self differential into their own family unit, and social circle.
The system targets an individuals problems of self actualization and creates a path for which this person can develop the necessary skills to be self sufficient and productive within a social unit. Thus a child who has been adopted from a foreign country from the parent (s) country may become more accepted into the social norm with the Bowen Systems Theory through use of adaptation yet maintaining personal integrity. Such problems as different race parent (s) adopting a different race child may cause tension in later years for the child, or for other family members. This is one of the many issues of adoption that must be considered before adopting. The Bowen Systems Theory however explains that there must be a necessary time of incorporation for both the child and the parent (s). This essay has explained the reasons for adopting, the positive and negative of the choice of adopting, and how the child will later be socialized with the Bowen Systems Theory.
The choice of adoption must be well-though out before any action is taken to ensure the safety of the child and a smooth adoption process. WORKS CITED Bowen Theory. Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. Georgetown Family Center Online. 2006. Date of Access: March 16, 2006. URL: web
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