Psychology

Ethics, as many of us have understood, is a branch of Philosophy that seeks out about morality. The conception of defending good and bad, justice and injustice, and even right and wrong behavior are the major path of this branch (Smith, M. 2009).

Ethical principles and theories are the groundwork of analyzing ethics, which becomes the deciding factor, which aims to provide justice and less harm. There are different Ethical theories but the one the author thought that can relate on the given situation is the theory of Utilitarianism.

Utilitarianism is composed of two types  the Rule Utilitarianism and the Act Utilitarianism (Hardin, R. 2007). The Rule Utilitarianism is all about rules. One should act according to rules created in order to fabricate positive outcomes. On the other hand, the Act Utilitarianism is all about how one should act in order to fabricate positive outcomes for the good of all.

The given situation can very well relate to Act Utilitarianism because Margaret, being the mother, lover, and daughter, is the most affected. Choices or decisions should be made by her in order save her family as well as herself. Interview is the most convenient way to get to know the people involved in the situation. A one-on-one interview will not only allow the interviewer to gather information, but the interviewer will, by some means, encourage the interviewee a feeling that the interviewer can be trusted. This will make the interviewee more open in telling about his or her feelings and thoughts.

The assessment that will be made in the given situation would help Margarets family in analyzing their problems, as well as their thought and feelings about each other. It is important to make them open up in order to assess the core problems, what decisions to make, and who should make big decisions.

The chart below will show the questions to be presented in the interview with the family, to whom the questions will be asked, why that question should be asked, and what information the interviewer will gather.

QUESTIONSPERSON BEING ASKEDWHY THIS QUESTION SHOULD BE ASKEDWHAT INFORMATION WILL BE GATHEREDHow are things going on in the house
How do you feel about your son
How do you feel about your daughter
How do you feel about your mother
How do you feel about your boyfriend
Why do you want to work in a local bar Dont you have any options
How about your time for your children when you start working there
Do you spend more time with your boyfriend How bout time for your children
Do you give money to your boyfriend whenever he asks Do you think it is necessary
Do you think he is good for the familyMARGARETIn order to fully understand the situation inside the house
To understand what she feels about her son
To understand what she feels about her daughter

To understand what she feels about her mother
To understand what she feels about her boyfriend

To know her plans in working and see if it will work out with their situation

To know her plans in terms of spending time with her children

To help her assess the time she spends with her boyfriend against her children

To let her reveal the reasons why she gives money to her boyfriend

To assess how she truly feels for the guy and see if she can give up the guy for her familyIdea on the relationship between the family members

Details about the problems shes having with her son
Details about the problems shes having with her daughter
Details about the problems with her mother
Details about the problems shes having with her boyfriend
Her reasons for working in the local bar and what advantages she see in that plan

Plans in dealing time with her children (arrangements between her mother in taking care of children)
The reasons why she spends time with her boyfriend more (to know if shes being threatened by the guy or the guy demands too much time)

The reasons why she gives money (if the boyfriend demands her to give money and threatens her if she does not give money)

Her plans if ever she thinks she can leave the guy and if not, the reasons why she cannot leave the guyWhat do you think of your daughter Margaret The decisions she made with her life
Do you think her boyfriend adds up to your family problems

Do the children seem to have a behavioral problemMARGARETS MOTHERTo know how her mother feels about their situation as well as the decisions Margaret has made in the past that affects their life now

To know if she still has influence to her daughter. To know the relationship between her and Margarets boyfriend

To assess if she see something unusual with the childrens behavior.Her own side of the story. Her points of views towards Margaret, her boyfriend, her children, and their situation
Her thoughts on the relationship of Margaret with LJ (boyfriend) and see if he is relevant to their situation now.

Her opinions on the childrens behaviors. To see how well she knows her grand childrenDo you get in trouble a lot Why
How are your grades Are you having difficulty at school
Why do you ignore your mom most of the time
What do you think of LJ Does he love your motherJAMESTo know the childs reason why he gets in trouble
To assess if the child needs attention from her mother when it comes to his studies
To assess if the child holds a feeling of resentment with his mother. To know if this is the reason why he gets in trouble
To assess the childs feelings about her mothers boyfriend.Reasons why he gets in trouble, if he causes the trouble or hes being bullied by schoolmates
His opinion about studying. What he can say about his mother being busy and spends less time with them
The childs feeling towards his mother. If hes angry at her or he just wants her attention.

His opinion on her mothers relationship. The child may mention if the guy gets mean at them sometimesWhat can you say about your mommy

Do you want her to spend more time with you and your brother
What can you say about your mommys boyfriendMIRANDATo assess if the child, at an early age, can feel the absences of her mother

To assess if the child is longing for her mother and what things she wants to do with her
To assess if the child can feel something about her mothers boyfriend.Her opinion about her mother, being busy at work, and not being around the house
Her opinion about her mother, being present in the house to guide her and her brother
Her thoughts about her mothers boyfriend. The child may also mention if the boyfriend is being rude to them

After creating series of questions for the interview, the author concludes that the process should be continued in assessing Margarets family. After conducting the interview, there are still questions of points of views that need to be supported by a secondary interview. This is due to the fact that there is so much to analyze with this family because several people are involved. Other people may be interviewed such as neighbors and Margarets sister. These people are the ones who can tell if they see something wrong with the children and their opinions on the present situation of the family can also add clarification on the matter. Through this, decisions can be concluded if the mother should seek professional assistance for her daughter.

In addition to this, the childrens answers matter because this could be a deciding factor for Margaret if she must continue having relationships with her boyfriend or she must focus on her family first. Margaret is the one who can decide on what actions should she take because she is the one responsible for her children.