Introduction
Adolescence is one of the most problematic in terms of character and behavior. The person begins to know himself, and the depth of their self-consciousness increases. However, at the same time, it is the first period they face the outside world with a responsibility to make essential decisions independently. Consequently, various mental disorders or reluctance to socialize are common problems during adolescence. The example of Johnny, who is 15 years old, is illustrative because it includes both positive and negative aspects of the child’s behavior. On the one hand, he has friends and various hobbies. On the other hand, he neglects school lessons and aggressively behaves with adults. Using social exchange theory in human services will improve Johnny’s behavior and qualitatively document his progress.
Theory in Human Services
As a theory used in human services to help Johnny be more sociable with other adults, it will be important to consider social exchange theory. The most valuable advantage of this theory is the possibility for teenagers to rethink how they interact with others in society and which aspects of this process should be considered. This human service theory is based on a cost-benefit analysis, where individuals weigh the rewards and costs of social interactions (Rosenthal, 2020). Therefore, it will be necessary for Johnny to observe and understand what benefits he can obtain from good communication with adults and qualitative self-behavior at school. This theory will work in this situation because of the possibility of Johnny understanding significant benefits for the future of good relationships with people and high marks at school. It is important to note that Johnny has a lot of hobbies, such as drawing and music. Using social exchange theory, he will get an opportunity to improve his talents while collaborating with teachers or studying better at school.
Two Measurable Goals
As goals for Johnny and his parents, it is important to consider their interaction within the family and their social behavior. The first goal will be to establish good family relations between relatives to provide positive examples of communication between adolescents and adults. First, Johnny will be less stressed and angered by the arguing between his parents. Second, by looking at examples of relationships, he will begin to rethink the value of human interaction (Rosenthal, 2020). The second goal will be to increase Johnny’s interest in education and school lessons, in particular. Parents should demonstrate by example that learning something new and improving themself is not a dull and useless activity but an exciting journey on the way to finding themselves. These goals could be measured by observing Johnny’s marks at school and through the feedback from his teachers. Therefore, the abovementioned two goals will allow Johnny to change his attitude toward school class, avoid physical altercations and have better relationships with adults.
Johnny’s Improvement Documentation
These goals will help document Johnny’s improvements in different ways. First, gradually improving the quality of parent-parent relationships will be possible to monitor the boy’s progress. Eliminating a negative example as a quarrel is the beginning of his change in relationships with adults and teachers at school (Rosenthal, 2020). Second, a similar situation will occur concerning his school performance. As parents immerse themselves in various educational activities, from watching National Geographic to studying severe scientific literature, it will be possible to document Johnny’s progress in education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to emphasize the right theory choice and its application method to improve adolescent behavior. The discussed social exchange theory has specific advantages and is an essential tool in cases such as Johnny and his parents. A consistent approach to changing parents’ lives will allow Johnny to have more time to observe good-quality relationships between people and define specific benefits from it for himself.
Reference
Rosenthal, H. (2020). Human services dictionary: Master reference for the NCE, CPCE, and the HS-BCPE exams (2nd ed.). Routledge.