Antwone Fisher: Theory Identification Process
Week 3 Assignment
Department of Social Work, Capella University
SWK 2208 Intro to Human Behavior and Social Environment
Antwone Fisher
The movie “Antwone Fisher” Is an autobiographical film based on the life of a real
person and the main character in the movie, Antwone Fisher. The film gives a glimpse into a son
born to a teenage mom, who at the time was incarcerated and raised in the foster care system
never knowing his biological father. Antwone Fisher, an African American male, was born on
August 3, 1959, in Cleveland, Ohio. Fisher endured years of physical and emotional abuse from
his foster mother particularly, who subjected him to severe punishments and felt betrayed most
of his life. This movie shows the experiences of the traumatic childhood Fisher faced, one filled
with abuse, neglect, and abandonment. His early childhood experiences had a deep impact on
,Antwone Fisher and his view of self-worth, along with forming many issues with trust and being
able to have a healthy relationship of any kind. He also struggled with severe abandonment,
anger issues, and low self-esteem as a result. Fisher’s way of dealing with things is isolating
causing additional feelings of loneliness. Throughout his journey Fisher is forced to face his past
and understand how it has impacted on his current behavior, but also in the end finds healing and
reconciliation. Through the support of caring individuals and therapy he finally learns to confront
the past, work on forgiveness for those who hurt him and move forwards down a path of self-
discovery and emotional well-being.
The presenting problem in the story of Antwone Fisher revolves around his struggles
with anger management, low self-esteem, and difficulty forming healthy relationships. These
issues manifest in his confrontational behavior, frequent outbursts of anger, and inability to trust
others. Despite his outwardly tough demeanor, Fisher harbors deep-seated emotional pain and
, unresolved trauma from his childhood experiences of abandonment, abuse, and neglect. His
presenting problem is not just his inability to control his anger, but the underlying emotional
turmoil and sense of disconnection with others. This hinders his ability to function effectively in
multiple aspects of his life including forming healthy work and personal relationships. He
struggles with confronting his past and understanding the impact it had on his present behavior,
and how to find healing, being able to move forward.
Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
Antwone Fisher can be understood through multiple developmental theories, particularly
ones that focus on childhood trauma, attachment, and resilience. The Attachment Theory,
originally developed by John Bowlby and then expanded upon by Mary Ainsworth, focuses on
the importance of early relationships to development. Especially on the relationships with the
primary caregivers and the impact those relationships have on shaping an individual's
psychological and emotional development. According to the Attachment theory, it is the secure
attachments in infancy and childhood that provide the groundwork for healthy social and
emotional functioning later in life. In the case of Antwone Fisher, early experiences of neglect,
abuse, along with instability, disrupted the development of forming secure attachments. The
cause of this issue had to do with separation at birth from his mother, followed by placement in
the foster care system. He never had the opportunity to form a secure bond with a consistent
caregiver in the early stages of his life. Instead, he experienced trauma and mistreatment from
his foster family, especially his foster mother. The lack of necessary nurturing and having a
stable caregiver likely played a role in his inability to trust others, regulate emotions, and build
healthy relationships with others. This also plays an influential role in his struggles with anger,
Week 3 Assignment
Department of Social Work, Capella University
SWK 2208 Intro to Human Behavior and Social Environment
Antwone Fisher
The movie “Antwone Fisher” Is an autobiographical film based on the life of a real
person and the main character in the movie, Antwone Fisher. The film gives a glimpse into a son
born to a teenage mom, who at the time was incarcerated and raised in the foster care system
never knowing his biological father. Antwone Fisher, an African American male, was born on
August 3, 1959, in Cleveland, Ohio. Fisher endured years of physical and emotional abuse from
his foster mother particularly, who subjected him to severe punishments and felt betrayed most
of his life. This movie shows the experiences of the traumatic childhood Fisher faced, one filled
with abuse, neglect, and abandonment. His early childhood experiences had a deep impact on
,Antwone Fisher and his view of self-worth, along with forming many issues with trust and being
able to have a healthy relationship of any kind. He also struggled with severe abandonment,
anger issues, and low self-esteem as a result. Fisher’s way of dealing with things is isolating
causing additional feelings of loneliness. Throughout his journey Fisher is forced to face his past
and understand how it has impacted on his current behavior, but also in the end finds healing and
reconciliation. Through the support of caring individuals and therapy he finally learns to confront
the past, work on forgiveness for those who hurt him and move forwards down a path of self-
discovery and emotional well-being.
The presenting problem in the story of Antwone Fisher revolves around his struggles
with anger management, low self-esteem, and difficulty forming healthy relationships. These
issues manifest in his confrontational behavior, frequent outbursts of anger, and inability to trust
others. Despite his outwardly tough demeanor, Fisher harbors deep-seated emotional pain and
, unresolved trauma from his childhood experiences of abandonment, abuse, and neglect. His
presenting problem is not just his inability to control his anger, but the underlying emotional
turmoil and sense of disconnection with others. This hinders his ability to function effectively in
multiple aspects of his life including forming healthy work and personal relationships. He
struggles with confronting his past and understanding the impact it had on his present behavior,
and how to find healing, being able to move forward.
Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
Antwone Fisher can be understood through multiple developmental theories, particularly
ones that focus on childhood trauma, attachment, and resilience. The Attachment Theory,
originally developed by John Bowlby and then expanded upon by Mary Ainsworth, focuses on
the importance of early relationships to development. Especially on the relationships with the
primary caregivers and the impact those relationships have on shaping an individual's
psychological and emotional development. According to the Attachment theory, it is the secure
attachments in infancy and childhood that provide the groundwork for healthy social and
emotional functioning later in life. In the case of Antwone Fisher, early experiences of neglect,
abuse, along with instability, disrupted the development of forming secure attachments. The
cause of this issue had to do with separation at birth from his mother, followed by placement in
the foster care system. He never had the opportunity to form a secure bond with a consistent
caregiver in the early stages of his life. Instead, he experienced trauma and mistreatment from
his foster family, especially his foster mother. The lack of necessary nurturing and having a
stable caregiver likely played a role in his inability to trust others, regulate emotions, and build
healthy relationships with others. This also plays an influential role in his struggles with anger,
