Think of it as a Huge Box of Crayons. Every crayon is a color, and every one of them has its significance. However, to create a masterpiece you have to mix a lot of colors. It is because just like those crayons, people are from various regions and have different experiences that contribute to who they become. We refer to this concept as the “Person In The Environment Theory.”
This theory allows us to appreciate the fact that an individual is more than their inside i.e. just not the thoughts and emotions of a person in them. They are also formed by their surroundings, which include family environment, school life, and the friends they choose to make around themselves as well as from what neighborhood or background they come.
This is vital knowledge we all must have to HELP people when they run into problems — In future blogs, you MUST learn that helping sometimes requires examining the WHOLE LIFE of a person and not just one part!
What is a Person?
People, — People here mean you or me. We are feeling, thinking, and ideating. We love things and hate others. Every single person is unique, just like every crayon in the box. There are very shy people and there are all the loud ones. There are outdoor players and there are book readers. Each person is an individual because of these differences.
But you cannot only be a person. We have family, we go to school, and friends. We live in big cities or small towns; we stay in houses or apartments. These are the totality of who we all are together.
The Environment Around Us
Moving along to the environment. Everything around us is called the environment. That air we breathe, the water we drink, and the areas in which we live. It does not end here, even our house or schools our immediate family and friends are part of the environment.
The environment can make us also feel happy, safe, and loved or sometimes sad, scared, and lonely. Another example is the possibility that living in a large noisy city may cause stress and tiredness. However, it could be a lovely home, if in the right place.
The Working of Human and Environment in Unison
According to the “Person in Environment Theory”, people are always interconnected with their environment. Like crayons mixing to form new hues, people with their environment combine to carve what they are.
Just think you are such good at playing football with a friend of yours. They could be good because they have a large backyard to practice in daily. or perhaps they have a coach to teach them how. The environment helps them to become a better soccer player.
Conversely, someone may love to play soccer but if they live somewhere where the only place you can find a soccer field is on privately-owned land then said person might not be able to further fulfill their passion due to inaccessibility. It shows how the surroundings could either be a boon or a bane to someone.
System Help by Seeing the Whole Picture
When a person has some problem such as sadness or getting in trouble at school, the Person In The Environment Theory provides directions to look upon all the realms of life and try to find who is responsible from where. Perhaps things at home are bad so they struggle or maybe their neighborhood isn’t very safe. It only helps us to help them better if we understand how they live in their world.
We learn, for example, that a child is doing poorly in school because there are no quiet areas at home where he or she can do homework. Others may not want to sleep because there is so much noise at night. If we know these things, then maybe we can work towards devising ways to make the child’s surroundings a little less bad.
Living Healthy Habits Increase with Environment
Plants need sunlight and water to thrive; people require a healthy environment for happiness and well-being. A healthy environment is one where people are safe, loved, and supported. This is where they get to learn, play, and grow.
Think about your own life. And what exists all around you, that makes one feel happy and be his/her best? But is it your family, who tucks you in and holds you tight? It might be what goes down in school; the lessons and friends made there. Your environment includes all of this.
Why This Theory is Important
First, the Person In The Environment Theory is important because it reminds us that not all people can be treated the same way — they have different needs and issues to address based on both their identities [person] as well as where they live and with whom they spend time [environment].
Teaching teachers, parents, and counselors what is needed to truly come along with someone in a way that works with the entire system of their life.
If a student is struggling to make friends, perhaps it’s because they feel different than everyone else. For all I know, they just moved to a new town and have made no friends. Knowing this makes us a little bit more compassionate and a lot less demanding as they get used to their new home.
Making a Better Environment
We all can contribute to a better climate for everyone here. In case you see someone who’s sad or alone, make a friend. You can listen to what a person who is suffering is saying, and you may be able to guide the next necessary move back toward mental health. This matters to someone out there.
You can also help to nurture the environment surrounding you. Cleaning your room, doing chores around the house, and cleaning up litter at a park are ways to help improve your environment.
Conclusion
It is just like crayons in a huge box, which the “Person In The Environment Theory” has taught us. They all are different, but also they have been linked with their environment. If we understand better how people interact with the environments around them, it improves not only our view of ourselves but also others. So we can explain, and make the world act better for everyone.
