The incredibles Susan Pyeon CSUSM Nursing 480 Family Assessment Visual Report
Meet the incredibles/parr fam
ily
This is a traditional nuclear family of five, including the married couple/parents Bob and Helen, and their biological children, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. They seem like a normal family, enjoying their lives in the suburbs of Metroville; however they have a secret - they’re a family of superheroes forced to live in anonymity by the government. Despite being unable to embrace their superhero identities publicly, the family typically functions well together as Bob and Helen try their best to provide a loving and safe environment that encourages honesty and open communication to their children. As a family, they’re mainly in the following stage of family life cycle defined by Duvall: families with adolescents as the eldest child is an adolescent; and in this stage, the family focuses on developmental tasks such as accepting the adolescent’s growing independence and identity, and thinking about the future. (Kaakinen, Duff-Gedaly, Hanson, & Coelho, 2015). Though the married couple also have a school-age child and an infant - it can be assumed that the married couple experienced the earlier stages such as childbearing families with infants and families with school-age children with their eldest child who is now an adolescent (Kaakinen et al., 2015). In other words, they have experience to raise and help their school-age child and infant, while they may face some new and unexpected difficulties in doing the same for their adolescent child as it’s their first time.
Robert “Bob” Parr/Mr. Incredible
Helen Parr/Elastigirl
A male in his 40’s, husband of Helen, and biological father of Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, he’s in the Generativity vs. Stagnation stage - where one makes their mark in the world (e.g. making positive contributions to society) to be remembered or fails to do so and feels stuck (McLeod, 2018). Because Bob is reluctant to leave his superhero life behind and accept his life of anonymity as an average civilian, he’s in stagnation.
A female in her 40s, wife of Bob, and biological mother of Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, she’s in the Generativity vs. Stagnation stage. Unlike Bob, Helen is in generativity as she left her superhero life behind and has accepted her role as a civilian, wife, and mother. As a stay home mother, her main focus is on taking care of the children.
Violet Parr A 14-year-old, the eldest child of Bob and Helen, and sister of Dash and Jack-Jack. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, she’s in the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage - where one understands their role and place in the world or fails to do so and gets confused (McLeod, 2018). She seems to struggle the most with the acceptance of her binary identities - a normal teenage girl interested in boys vs. a superhero with invisibility and force field protection. Being an introvert, she keeps to herself and avoids social interaction - factors that don’t help her depression.
Dashiell “Dash” Robert Parr A 10-year-old, the middle child of Bob and Helen, and brother of Violet and Jack-Jack. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, he’s in the Industry vs. Inferiority stage - where one gains skills and confidence or fails to do so and feel doubtful (McLeod, 2018). Unlike his sister, Dash is far from being shy and insecure. Despite this, he’s in the inferiority stage as he’s forced to hide his super speed power. He still speeds off whenever he can.
John Jackson “Jack-Jack” Parr An infant, the youngest child of Bob and Helen, and brother of Violet and Dash. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, he’s in the Trust vs. Mistrust stage - where one finds security from caregivers that provide quality care (McLeod, 2018). He’s definitely in the trust stage, as he finds comfort and quality care from both of his parents and his older siblings. Overall, he’s similar to other infants, except from time to time he unintentionally causes havoc by showcasing his numerous and undiscovered super powers.
violet’s Like most teenagers, Violet is going through various changes including but not limited to psychological and physical. In facing such changes, her shy and insecure personality as well as her superhero identity doesn’t aid in her attempt to find her place in the world. Her confusion and discomfort is well reflected in her appearance as she hides most of her face with her long, dark hair. At school she is a wallflower; and at home she is an unhappy teenager who likes to spend time alone and lash out by refusing to participate in family dinners and play with her younger brothers. Adolescents tend to use alone time as a way to destress; however this can also indicate clinical depression, so it’s important to distinguish the differences - especially since untreated depression can lead to suicide (Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk, & Wilson, 2014). Today, suicide is the second leading cause of death in young adults (Mazzaia, 2018). Hence, parents shouldn’t ignore signs of depression (e.g. increased time alone, inappropriate/destructive behaviors) and be alert for signs of suicide (e.g. drastic changes in behavior, withdrawal from family and friend, and discussing suicide) (Perry et al., 2014).
Strengths
challenges
All members of the family have a strong sense of responsibility, perseverance, and grit. Parents provide a loving and safe environment that encourages honest and open communication. Children are generally understanding and obedient - or at least, they try to be.
All family members share the burden of their superhero identity as well as individual struggles. Because each child is in a different developmental stage, the parents may struggle to meet each child’s needs. Lack of active participation and communication from all members of the family.
Cultural & Religious Traditions This family doesn’t seem to have any particular cultural and religious traditions.
Communication Verbal
Non-verbal
Typically, Helen initiates and encourages interpersonal and group communication.
All members of the family show affection by hugging.
Bob tends to follow Helen’s lead, except in her absence.
Sometimes, Helen and Bob communicate by making eye-contact.
While Violet is reluctant to share anything with her family, Dash is a chatterbox and direct.
Violet and Dash tend to resort to gestures and facial expressions when they struggle to find words to express their feelings.
Jack-Jack makes indecipherable noises.
As a baby, Jack-Jack doesn’t know any words to communicate, so he cries and smiles.
Family systems theory This focuses on the family as a whole. It indicates that a change in one member affects the rest of the family (Kaakinen, 2015). Violet’s depression leads to reciprocal changes in the functioning of her family. For instance, as Violet withdrawals more and more from the family, her parents become more stressed as they try to help her and take care of Dash and Jack-Jack. When Violets acts out and has her mood swings, Dash makes complaints to the parents while following her example. When all members of the family are stressed in dealing with the depression, Jack-Jack is forced to live in a hostile environment. Sadly, Jack-Jack can’t do anything himself to help relieve the palpable tensions. Because the family is interdependent, to help Violet with her depression, interventions and outcomes should focus on the family as an unit.
Interventions & Rationales Intervention 1
Intervention 2
Intervention 3
Rationale 1
Rationale 2
Rationale 3
Promote family communication through family meals (Ackley, Ladwig, & Makic, 2017). Family mealtimes may improve the health and well-being of adolescents (Locchetta, Barton, & Kaiser, 2016). They also strengthen the family and provide a suitable environment for better development (Utter et al., 2013).
Encourage the family’s involvement to help alleviate Violet’s loneliness (Ackley et al., 2017). Depression levels may increase due to lack of family support (Tanner, Martinez, & Harris, 2014).
Provide the family with knowledge and training skills to care for Violet and her depression (Ackley et al., 2017). Increases family’s stability,
efficacy, and confidence in providing care for Violet - and achieve desired outcomes as well as decrease the likelihood of Violet engaging in risky health behaviors (Kao, Luplya, & Clemen-Stone, 2014).
Outcomes The family’s support will provide Violet with the reassurance that she isn’t alone in coping with her depression.
The family will have a better understanding of what Violet is going through and be able to empathize with her.
The family will participate in all aspects of Violet’s care to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Violet’s care.
references
Ackley, B.J., Ladwig, G.B., Makic, M.B.F. (2017). Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care (11th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Kaakinen, J., Duff-Gedaly, V., Hanson, S., Coelho, D. (2015) Family Health Care Nursing: Theory, Practice and Research (5th Ed.). F. A. Davis: Philadelphia. Kao, T. S., Luplya, C. M., & Clemen-Stone, S. (2014). Family efficacy as a protective factor against immigrant adolescent risky behavior: a literature review. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 32, 202–216. Locchetta, B. M., Barton, E. E., & Kaiser, A. (2016). Using Family Style Dining to Increase Social Interactions in Young Children. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 37(1), 54-64. doi:10.1177/0271121416678078 Mazzaia, M. C. (2018). Needs in Mental Health and Research. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 71, 2077–2078. https://doi-org.ezproxy.csusm.edu/10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0363 Perry, S. E., Hockenberry, M. J., Lowdermilk, D. L., & Wilson, D. (2014). Maternal Child Nursing Care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby. Utter, J., Denny, S., et al. (2013). Family meals and the well-being of adolescents. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 49(11), 906–911.
Image Reference Meet your match. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2019, from https://www.charactour.com/hub/search?q=the incredibles