Attachment theory and family systems theory in parent-child relationships

Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Family Challenges

Human interactions are guided by the ability of every player to get close to the other in such a manner that allows each of them to handle the issues that affect them. This is mostly witnessed in a family setup, where the people are made to understand the best of what can upset them at all times. This is where the players in a family setup have to consider making up with their desires and addressing everyone's concern for the sake of the family unity. In most instances, the people who must be accommodated are the children because their happiness is premised on the guidance from parents (Papero, 2010). The two most essential theories used to foster our understanding of family relationships are the family systems theory and the attachment theory.

Attachment Theory

Attachment theory explains how the human beings in every setting have to interact and handle their relationships for helping each other stay comfortably. In the case study, Alice and her daughter Maria are seen to be engaged in a relationship challenge. Alice is full of irresponsibility and lacking the ability the parental instinct that a mother must have. Evidently, she has been mishandling her daughter by failing to give her the much-needed attention and due care (Slade, 2014). The behavior of involving herself in drug abuse has affected the child and has consequently forced the authorities to prevail on her. As the attachment theory presents, the relationship between the parents and their children ought to be protected at all costs. This also applies to all the players in any form of relationship, other than the family unit. All that is needed in any family arrangement or any form of human interaction is the arrangement where all the players respect themselves and respect each other well.

In Alice's case, the family system had totally failed. As a result, this had to be handled with caution and care with the intention of protecting the interests of the child and other related parties. The government always has a plan that is meant to tame whatever is happening in a family setting. In all cases, the interests of the child come first. The government will always be expected to protect these interests by enabling the players in the system to respect each other.

The Choice of the Two Theories

In the study involving Alice and her daughter, the two theories of attachment theory and family systems theory were chosen because they touch closely on the issues that the two are facing. The attachment theory is appropriate because it addresses the challenges arising from the differences in family members as preferences on issues about their lives. It is also noted in this case study that Alice did not fulfill the specific roles that a responsible parent ought to do to his or her children. She failed to accord her daughter the due attention that she deserved. Monica could not have the desired and comfortable life because of the challenges and problems with her mother. The attachment theory holds that each family member needs to play a specific active role in the stabilization of the family. Therefore, it is important that Alice had to be more warm and cordial to her child to ensure that she developed a good relationship. The family systems theory was also appropriate in the sense that it allowed for the creation of a better family system. The theory suggests that there has to be a closer approach for handling the challenges that emanate in a family system (Slade, 2014).

Strength and Weaknesses in the Theories

The current knowledge capacity about the stated theories makes them fail to explain the details of how families ought to be run. In the theories, there is a missing explanation of how children in the contemporary families can be raised. The knowledge of how families ought to be raised depends on the culture of the people. The theories fail cover the current challenges in families like the negative influence of the social media and other technological platforms on children. The two theories must be revised to match the situation as a way of formulating the appropriate solutions to the problem (Ackerman, 2009).