Family Systems Theory

Exam 2

History: Burgess (1926)

1. Defined family as a “unity of interacting personalities”, believe in that the interaction of its members and is a living, changing, growing thing or “super personality”
2. Two family types:


1. Highly integrated - characterized by rituals, discipline, interdependence, and cooperation
2. Uninterrupted - lack of those features

What is a system?

Set of components or processes that interact with one another to achieve a specific object or serve a common purpose or goal

What are the components of a system?

1. Interrelated elements and structure - interact in patterns to serve a common purpose or goal
2. Interact in patterns - to serve a common purpose or goal
3. Have boundaries: open and closed - defining what is inside and outside a system
4. Whole is greater than sum of parts - the behavior of the system as a whole cannot be predicted by analyzing the behavior of its individual parts (?)
5. Messages and rules - systems rely on messages and rules to facilitate communication and interactions between its components
6. Subsystems - within larger system and interact with other subsystems to achieve the larger system’s goals

System Terms: System

* Any set of objects, with their attributes, that relate to each other in a way that creates a new “super entity”
* Boundary-maintained unit
* Interdependent parts, alteration in one part affects all components of system
* Family is a social system
* Can have subsystems, primarily: parental, spousal, and sibling

System Terms: family roles - specific functions for individuals

Recurring patterns of behavior used to fulfill family functions


1. Mover - initiates action
2. Opposer
3. Follower
4. By standard

System Terms: family roles - dysfunctional families (alcoholic)

Recurring patterns of behavior used to fulfill family functions


1. Dependent
2. Enabler/codependent
3. Hero
4. Delinquent
5. Invisible child
6. Clown

System Terms: Hierarchy

Rank according to authority/power - family’s arrangement is related to its organization,, communication patterns, decision-making process etc.

System Terms: Boundaries

Lines of demarcation that distinguish a system from its environment and affect the flow of energy and information between the two


1. Open - highly interactive with outside environment, healthy kids
2. Random - no boundaries, few rules exist above defending “family’s territory”, children don’t feel loved


1. Closed - extremely private, result in emotional illness—can’t function on own behalf

Basic Assumptions: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

Think cake, individual ingredients missing = different quality

Basic Assumptions: society is the environmental context and individual family members are component units

Behavior must be understood in context, both within family context and interaction with other systems context

Basic Assumptions: family is a goal-seeking system

They pursue goals and develop tactics to achieve them, although their degree of goal orientation can vary

Basic Assumptions: a family is a self-reflective and self-regulating system, continually influenced by feedback

Positive (change-sustaining/enhancing) and negative feedback (attempts to return to previous steady state) can be good or bad

Basic Assumptions: family systems are defined by communication

Allows families to create, preserve, and modify a system’s reality. Two levels of messages:


1. Content level
2. Relationship level - what and how it is said/should be interpreted

Meta communication helps articulate needs, clarify misunderstandings, and plan more constructive means for relating to each other

Basic Assumptions: the locus of pathology is not within the person, but is a system of dysfunction

The location of the problem is not within the individual but the system in which they are in is dysfunctional

Bowen Family Systems Theory

* pioneer of FSystemT
* Believes that a family is a unit of complex infractions with emotionally connected members who exhibit emotional interdepence
* Sees the patient as part of the family system and pays attention to the family’s struggle to balance togetherness with individualization

Triangulation

A 3-person relationship in which a dyad is destabilized by a third party.

The smallest stable relationship system and a building block of larger emotional system

2-person systems are unstable and can’t tolerate tension

Dysfunctional triangulation

Perpetuates problem

One member is caught between tension between the other two, leading to emotional and psychological distress

Often used to diffuse anxiety and conflict in the system, but ultimately leads to dysfunciton and lack of resolution, #3 talks to both 1 and 2 about the other and also to others outside triangle

Functional triangulation

Resolves problem

\#3 is mediator/peacemaker, helping to alleviate tension and conflict between the other two members

Can lead to improved communication, greater emotional maturity, and a stronger, more functional family system

Differentiation

The process of becoming an individual and a separate self, while still maintaining emotional connection with others; togetherness vs. separateness—equilibrium

Differentiated self

Less reactive, calm emotions, thoughtful, independent, not vulnerable to stress, decreases triangulation and entanglements/problems, achieves closeness without enmeshment, has better relationships

Undifferentiated self

More reactive, less thoughtful, critical and judgmental, concerned about approval, dependent, increase triangulation, difficulty with decisions, poor communication, repeat problematic relationship

Nuclear Family Problems

1. Marital conflict - significant arguments, disagreements, and tension in relationship
2. Dysfunction in one spouse - one spouse has significant emotional, mental, or behavioral issues that cause distress for the other spouse and children
3. Impairment of one or more children - same as above
4. Emotional distance - feeling disconnected emotionally
5. Tension/anxiety - lead to experience emotional tension/stress, impairs ability (functional—work, school, decision-making etc.), and moves through system (one to another through communication/interaction; dangerous cycle)

Family Projection Process

Parents project emotional responses on children

Can lead to children feeling responsible for others’ well-being’s and increase need for attention/approval

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Occurs as child leaves nuclear family to establish own family → changes in family system may occur over time → generations may be very different in family roles, expectations, and functions—may be evident in terms of educational level, occupations, or family structure

Emotional Cutoff

the act of family members disconnecting emotionally from each other as a means of coping with unresolved emotional issues or conflicts

Ex. Adult child cuts off emotionally abusive mom to avoid dealing with issues

Can lead to unresolved emotional pain and distress for all parties and hinder the development of healthy relationships and emotional maturity

Sibling Position

Birth order impacts individual responses. Individuals who are in same sibling position have similar personality


1. First born - leader, takes on more responsibility and displays more organized and structured personality


1. Last born - follower, displays more carefree and spontaneous personality being more likely to take risks

Societal Emotional Process

The way societal characteristics, such as cultural norms, economic pressures and political events, impact and influence family systems

Parenting may have become less rule bound due to societal norms

Article Analysis: Scaffolding or enabling?: Implications of extended parental financial support into adulthood

Major points:


1. Parents provide support to adult children
2. Uses Systems Theory to analyze the situation, which suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation but must be viewed in the context of their family system and other systems they are apart of
3. Bowenian Therapy is applied to the family situation, which focuses on understanding how family members are emotionally connected and the ways in which this emotional interdependence can influence their behavior
4. Study found that while parental financial support can be helpful in some situations, it can also create dependency and hinder the development of independence
5. Authors sugges that parents need to set clear boundaries and communicate their expectations to their adult children in order to avoid creating an unhealthy dynamic