Running head: PHAM’S PERSPECTIVE
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Dan Pham
Dr. Pierce
HDFS 414
Final Paper: Pham’s Perspective
18 December 2013
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We live in an imperfect world, but it is the only one we have. Who is to say what is right
or wrong through the eyes on an individual? It comes into consideration that one’s own world
view people have to respect. Although people’s perspective may contradict your own world
view, the nature of people’s uniqueness is what makes everyone special. There are three world
views: mechanistic (development of external forces), organismic (development is natural), and
contextual (experience is subjective). Which one am I? Throughout this paper I will discuss my
developmental insight curiosity of my personal experiences, or other words the theoretical
approach of Pham’s experience.
World Views
Individuals throughout the world are classified in either three categories: mechanistic,
organismic, and contextual. How one’s upbringing and societal views contribute to their
decision making portrays within their relationships with others. The ideal world view to be in
would be contextual, but if that were the case, that takes away the uniqueness and the abilities to
help people in the human services field. If everyone had the same mind-set, what kind if world
would this be?
My Parent’s World View
My heritage comes from a traditional background of Vietnam. The way of living where
my parents used to live was unbearable compared to the United States. The lack of resources
available to many Vietnamese citizens was a normative way of life. For the survival of their
families, they had to do whatever it took to ensure that priority. My parents proclaimed that our
families in Vietnam think in a mechanistic perspective. As education was a rarity throughout our
family, their way of thinking abstractly was unheard of.
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My family in Vietnam is influenced by the external forces, in this case societal views
within their village. After my parents raised their children and lived in the U.S. for over 30
years, they went back home a saw no change. My parent’s thinking abilities showcased that
people’s mindset indeed have the capabilities to change, if one is willing to encourage
themselves. Throughout my parent’s experiences: mechanistic (home life before leaving),
organismic (valuing living systems) their assumptions of better living life for future family in the
U.S., and contextual (in the process).
Furthermore, my parents are in the process of becoming contextual thinkers, in my belief.
Their ability to think on both sides of the spectrum, Western society has definitely influenced.
Compared to any of my other family members living here in the states as well as Vietnam, my
parents have expanded their knowledge and their abilities to “think outside the box” are
motivating. As I was growing up within my household, my parents implemented their traditional
lifestyle. I grew accustomed to it, but for my other siblings they all interpreted differently. I
believe this is what makes my family unique as well as fascinating.
My Personal View
Throughout my life, I have experienced many situations where I had to make a decision
to the best of my moral abilities. My maturity at such a young age has guided my path to success
as well as the person I am today. My personality is the greatest characteristic because my
relationships with others are quite important to my self-worth. I revolve around positive
attitudes and my passion to help others emotional needs, I put them before myself.
It wasn’t until my adolescence that I started to realize my parent’s determination to help
their children to succeed. Although they didn’t tell me, I figured for myself and I used that
motivation throughout my life. Knowing my capabilities of managing my actions and thinking
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on both sides of the spectrum, I knew that helping people would be my future career. I truly
believe that I am a contextual individual. The person who I am today has internally strengthened
and will continue to strengthen till the day I pass away. Relationships are great importance to me
without it, how does one be inherently active? I couldn’t imagine myself being isolated from
people; I would definitely not be the person I am today.
Core Tendency
What is the nature of people’s driving force? I believe it showcases throughout their
interactions with others as well as their personality. The contribution to one’s core tendency
would be their personal life experiences. People’s ability to deal with personal issues, only one
can describe. But if they want to seek help for their emotional problems; they must encourage
themselves to do so. Core tendency is the internal strive within an individual to do what they
believe is right. In people’s human nature to judge those different from ourselves is what society
is revolved around.
Core Characteristics
The commonalities among people in all societies that I’m aware of is the nature of
judgment. Whether its physical or emotional, people tend to judge because it’s an instinct.
Sadly, some people revolve around being judgmental towards others, but people have to consider
other perspectives such as how one may have developed in that way. Words are easier said than
done, but in hopes of that perspective we must respect individuals of who they are; we do not
necessarily have to like them.
Peripheral Characteristics
Again, what make people truly unique in their own special way are their individual
differences, more specifically their personalities. How one showcases their personality, does it
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mean it reflects how they are internally? Some people would agree and others would disagree. I
have witnessed this type of behavior throughout my life in my family household as well as my
schooling. I learned over the years to accept those who were different from me simply because
I’m a well-rounded person. I’m accepting towards everyone and a lot of people out in the world
could use that hospitality; however, others may not be as appreciative. What I have learned
throughout my adolescent years as well as my early adulthood is that you can never judge a book
by its cover because there’s probably a great story behind it.
Developmental Patterns
This section of the paper will discuss Pham’s perspective of life. Throughout my college
education, I declared my major as Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) my
freshmen year. Knowing that I wanted to help people, I tried to search the best type of behavior
method in helping individuals that related to my own personality. It wasn’t until my senior year
that I took HDFS 414 and figured out the most relevant theory, Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy.
Although the other cognitive theorist Albert Ellis has interesting methods that I concur to, but his
style of therapy is too confrontational.
Furthermore, throughout my high school years I had helped several of friends through
emotional distress. With that in mind, I did the best I could to help them through their situations,
but ultimately it was their desired goals they had to overcome themselves. One of the most
important aspects of Beck’s work is the therapist and client working together as a team. I value
that so much; in addition, challenging clients to explore their underlying beliefs. Most times
when people are troubled, they are caught in the moment and don’t realize what’s within their
beliefs. In other words they are “smoked screen.” Connecting the pieces of information together
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in helping my friends got them on the right path of self-success. One of my personal errors of
helping people is my willingness in finding the best solution(s) for their problems.
Continuity or Discontinuity
In the works of a cognitive therapist such as Aaron Beck, I personally believe that his
style of therapy would be discontinuity rather than continuity. Understanding one’s self is a step
by step process. This type of internal problem I do not see being a continuous smooth process,
it’s merely a stage process. This particular stage process involves in depth abstract thinking
rather than overcoming set of skills at a certain age. Working together in essence of
accomplishing goals throughout one’s problem would be step by step process. Achieving a goal
does not necessarily mean it’s solved, until the individual feels it is so and they are happy within
themselves.
Pathology
Human beings aren’t perfect, no one is. If someone thinks they are Beck would see a
dysfunctional belief pattern of narcissism. People experience life events in the past, present, and
will continue in the future until they die. Those experiences contribute how one thinks as well as
make decisions. Sometimes people do not have the ability to stand for their own and need
guidance/support. The breakdown how emotional problems occur is both internal and external.
One may be more crucial than the other, but they work together in causing emotional discomfort
for individuals.
Intervention
The most effective way to be at peace within you is admitting there is problem(s) that is
preventing to continue on in life. Encouraging yourself that you want to seek professional help
is another step in becoming whole with yourself once more and the struggles/difficulties would
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become less stressful. Committing yourself to go through with therapy sessions or seeking any
kind of help is just a step closer of ensuring a better life within yourself.
Conclusion
All in all, people throughout every society will have a different mindset from other
individuals. Having that in mind, we as human beings must realize that no one is perfect. We
make mistakes throughout life; learn and capitalize from those experiences. Those who have
influenced the nature of who they are will be judged by others and this judgmental nature will
never go away. In essence, people show their physicality as well as behaviors there is no correct
way in doing so. If we as a society consistently judge and project negative attitudes towards
individuals, most likely that would impact those who are victimized.
Furthermore, I realized that individuals are different from one another and that’s alright
with me. Not everyone will abide to the “correct” standards how we as a society view things.
Throughout high school I believe I’ve seen all of the normative dramas and issues portrayed.
Seeing individuals get emotionally hurt also hurt me as well. The nature of who I am gravitates
towards people who are emotionally hurt and need support. No matter who these individuals are
regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, friend, acquaintance, and etc; I will do the best of
my competent abilities to ensure happiness upon them. You can never judge a book by its cover
until you get to the root of the problem(s). The fact of judging and assuming I believe is looked
down upon through my values of the Pham experience.
Throughout my life, my parents have motivated me to succeed with the choices I make
for my future. Happiness and tranquility within me are the key components of the passion I want
to strive in which is helping people with their emotional problems. After knowing about Aaron
Beck and his techniques as a cognitive therapist, I feel that I relate to him in ways of how I help
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people. Moreover, the way I help people in hopes of resolving his/her problems: working
together as a team, challenging one’s beliefs, and promoting tasks will only get someone a step
close of finding their solution(s). In respects of Albert Ellis, there are times within helping a
person through a problem where you have to get a bit confrontational and challenge their beliefs.
I personally stated this in this paper that I don’t do this, but in rare occasions sometimes that
could express one’s emotions if the helper is frustrated.
I have lived, learned, taught not only myself but other individuals how to potentially
solve problems. I am willing to give my time and effort to go out of my way to help another
person in emotional distress. My personality showcases not only who I am but also committed
hospitality (theoretical approach) towards people. I believe this demonstrates similar
characteristics of Aaron Beck’s work with his techniques. My parents are the motivation of my
life, the passion in helping people, and happiness as well as tranquility made me into the person I
am all contributes to nothing more than Pham’s experience.
People have the capabilities in becoming contextual thinkers. But if every society
thought in the contextual perspective, how can individuals be unique as well as human services
be a part in today’s growing occupation? As time change so do individuals within their society.
Throughout Pham’s experience, it does not only influence me from the past, but also what is
occurring in the present and what might occur in the future. Pham’s experience will guide an
individual in becoming happy within themselves due to the moral decisions made throughout
life. But first, one’s mindset of who they are must be truly happy. Afterwards, the work of
Pham’s experience will positively take care what lies ahead for people’s lives. Laughter is the
best medicine. Every day is a new beginning for someone to be happy; you may not have that
opportunity tomorrow to express what your heart says.