In this academic essay I will be focusing and explaining my understanding of the Family Social System, how it interacts with other systems, how it works on the internally, but also on Murray Bowen’s family system theory, concepts and tools he has provided for future therapists in the pursuit to help family systems in crisis, how some of his views are very simular to Erik Erikson’s developmental theory stage effects and can actually mesh quite easily to assist in understanding the human psyche in individuals for both theory’s, finally I will explain briefly on genograms and how this tool can help assist in deciphering repetitive detrimental crisis and anxieties in the family system. A Family system is a social system that consists of one or …show more content…
Whatever the situation or structure of a family system, one thing is for certain, every member of the system affects one another negatively and/or positively, when one loses his or her job, all members are affected as the strain of finances builds or one falls ill, all the members are affected as they will need to help more in the home and with each other. If a member doesn’t support or mesh with their own family system and deviates from the beliefs and boundaries of the system, the system begins to falter and dysfunction creeps in causing breakdowns, breakups, abuse, neglect, emotional or physical cut-offs which in turn can put pressure on outside systems such as police/judicial, lawyers, counsellors/psychologists/psychiatrists, government institutions, healthcare, welfare. (Germov, J., & Poole, M. …show more content…
Erikson’s psychosocial stages (McLeod, S. 2008). 1. Trust verses Mistrust (hope) 2. Autonomy verses shame (will) 3. Initiative verses guilt (purpose) 4. Industry verses inferiority (competency) 5. Ego identity versus role confusion (fidelity) 6. Intimacy versus isolation (love) 7. Generativity versus stagnation (care) 8. Ego integrity versus despair (wisdom) O'Hara, D., & Meteyard, J. (2011), points out Bowen’s theory also had 8 concepts to assist in understanding where an individual is emotionally in the family
For Bowen, the family is the unit of observation and the emphasis is put on emotional forces that are common to all families, this helps to reduce the significance of which family member is causing the problem. Bowens approach to change is understood within the context of striving to understand life’s forces, the very principal that gives coherence to Bowens approach to therapy. (Friedman, 1991). When attempting to achieve change within a client the source of the issue is less important, but rather trying to locate the systematic forces within a family as well as those that are transmitted from generation...
According to Murray Bowen’s family systems theory, the family subsists in an arrangement, whereas the individuals are inseparable from their network of relationships, but continue to strive to be individualized. Consequently, various forms of these networks are grounded in the domestic structure and the “normal” or “ideal” family and its development is derived from the interaction of the family members as they remain differentiated, anxiety is minimal, and partners have beneficial emotional communication with their family members (Nichols, 2014). Subsequently, the idea of achieving individuality while remaining in a cohesive family unit may cause stress. Concepts such as differentiation of self, triangulation, emotional cutoff, and anxious attachment may aid in the elucidation of the family system. This theoretical concept along with these coinciding terms will be explored through one episode of the television series The Goldbergs called Rush.
Family therapy differs from other kinds of therapy in the most basic premise that the unity of the problem is not one person but two or more. This is not a patient whose evil is stimulated by others but a symptomatic behavior product of a relationship between two or more people (Danny Wedding, Raymond J. Corsini ( 2013). Find the problem that the family wants to correct and identify in a clear manner. Initially, as a therapist trying to change the low expectations of the family to one where change within the family and theorize on what can happen. Using a genogram will be useful to analyze the addresses and relationships of each person in the
Erik Erikson’s theory is based on eight psychological stages of development. For the purpose of Keith’s assessment, only six stages of development are appropriate for Keith and his family at this time. Trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. identity confusion and intimacy vs. isolation will be addressed in this paper.
Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (1999). Systems theory and family systems (2 ed.). Lanham, NY: University Press of America.
Murray Bowen, a pioneer of psychiatry in the 1950s proposed a family system theory where each family member’s behaviour is explained by eight interlocking concepts. The first concept is triangle. It is a three person relationship system and is considered as the basic building block of larger emotional unit. A triangle can contain more tension than a dyad (two person system) due to the shifting of tension among the three person involved. The next one is differentiation of self. It is stated that families affects strongly how a person thinks. Depends on how a family functions, the children will either have a well-defined or a poorly-defined “self” depending on their emotional dependence on other people. There is also the nuclear family emotional system. The concept describes 4 basic relationships that govern where problems develop in a family; marital conflict, dysfunction in one spouse, impairment of one or more children and emotional distance. The fourth concept is family projection process which describes the way parents transmit their emotional problem to their child. The primary c...
According to Richard Charles (2001) “the effectiveness of family systems theory rests not much on empirical research but on clinical reports of positive treatment outcomes, the personal benefits experienced by the families that underwent this kind of treatment, and the elegance of Bowen’s theory” (p. 279). Bowen’s family systems theory views the family as an emotional unit and is a theory of human behavior. Systems thinking is used to describe the complex interactions in the unit. However, the client’s ability to differentiate himself/herself from the family of origin is the basis for Bowen’s family systems theory. In addition, the primary focus for growth within the emotional system is differentiation of self.
Moreover, the foundational approach to structural family therapy are that families’ are views as psychosocial systems, attached within social systems, which operate in a transactional patters. The transaction patterns are how, when and whom to relate, and reinforce systems. As a result each family duty are carried ou...
Banner, J. (1986). Virginia Satir's family therapy model. Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, 42(4), 480-494.
The television sitcom Modern Family produced by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd shows the many different types of a modern American family. According to Andrew Hampp, “The show is among the most-viewed scripted programs in prime time in its second season, averaging 11 million viewers during original airings and often ranked as the most DVRed program most weeks” (2). The television show is a frequently watched show and is liked by many viewers. Modern Family's storyline helps the families of viewers by being an influential and relatable show to different types of families. The show is about the lives of three different families that are all related. In the show there are Jay and Gloria, an intergenerational couple with two sons-- Manny (from Gloria’s previous relationship) and Joe, their new baby. Jay’s adult son Cameron is married to his gay partner Mitchell, and they adopted Lily from Vietnam. Finally, Jay’s daughter Claire is married to her heterosexual partner named Phil and they have three children. The show is influential to our culture today because it shows these different types of families and addresses controversial themes such as gay adoption, the different family connections and communications, intergenerational coupling, and acceptance of diversity within an extended family. The family is easy to relate to while watching because it is based off of real family situations.
Patterns such as multigenerational patterns, triangle patterns, and emotional cutoff patterns all help one break down the family system and understand why the family interacts the way they do. With Bowen, family interaction is broken down and studied to understand family functions. After the family function is understood, Bowen then moves on to treating the family for best optimal functionality. Bowen’s Theory allows therapist to best understand how families function, by watching their behaviors, intergenerational patterns, and differentiation levels to allow him to best treat the family and get them back to a optimal functionality system.
Bowen believed the family was an emotional unit. He hypothesized that all emotional problems occur within a single continuum of functioning. The family best develops when anxiety is low and parents have a good origin of emotional contact with family. The systems theory explains wholeness, self-organization, relationships, and interactions between parts. Pattern recognition in one part of the family system will cause changes throughout the family system is regulated by both positive and negative feedback to maintain and equilibrium in the family. Bowen believed that everyone is grounded in the natural systems theory that draws from biological and natural sciences based on principle of self-organization, repetition, and formation of patterns
A theory is defined as a system of general propositions which are used to establish a relationship between two or more variables (Abend, 2008). Social workers utilize theories in practice to develop an understanding of clients and the obstacles they face in social environments. This research will explore social learning theory, family systems theory and the key concepts derived under each. Additionally, social learning theory and family systems theory will be utilized to discuss the impacts of incarceration on African American men and their families.
He developed his theory with the idea that it would be beneficial for people in therapy who have a difficult time dealing with behaviors and maintaining relationships within their family unit (admin, 2016). The main focus of many therapists is to help individuals to cope within their family and give them better strategical ways of ensuring that the family stays together. Unlike other systems theory, Family Systems Theory seems to be the head start for other systems theory. In addition, ealing with the family as a unit helps to figure out the underlying issues for the presenting problems (admin, 2016). Bowen introduced the eight interlocking concepts of Family Systems Theory and how they work together in order to be successful. The different concepts include differentiation of self, emotional triangle, the family projection process, the multigenerational transmission process, emotional cutoff, systems cutoff, social emotional process, and nuclear family emotional
In order for society to meet the basic social needs of its members, social institutions, which are not buildings, or an organization or even people, but a system whose of social norms, mores and folkways that help make people feel important. Social institutions, according to our textbook, is defined as a fundamental component of this organization in which individuals, occupying defined statues, are “regulated by social norms, public opinion, law and religion” (Amato 2004, p.961). Social institutions are meant to meet people’s basic needs and enable the society to survive. Because social institutions prescribe socially accepted beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors, they exert considerable social control over individuals.