© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Understanding Marriage and Family Dynamics Chapter 3

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Key Concepts Conceptual framework: set of interconnected concepts, ideas, and assumptions Theory: general principles that are interrelated concepts Hypotheses: presumed relationships among variables

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Approaches to Understanding Families Idiographic approach: Focus on unique aspects of individuals and families Nomothetic approach: Focus on ideas that apply to the majority of individuals and families

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The History of Family Science New multidisciplinary profession Emerged from interest in marriages and families Key Professional Organizations National Council on Family Relations American Association for Marital and Family Therapy American Association for Marital and Family Therapy

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. MODELS OF COUPLES AND FAMILIES CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS Family Systems Family Development Family Strengths Symbolic Interaction Social Construction Feminist Framework

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family Systems Theory Influential theory in family science Views families as ongoing system of interconnected members

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family Systems Theory: A Hierarchy of Connected Systems Multiple system levels Wholeness Interdependence of parts Boundaries Within the family Between the family and external world

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Ecological Approach Individuals and families exist within multiple systems that may influence development and interactions Systems include Family system Neighborhood systems Community systems Broader societal systems

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. An Ecological Approach to Human Systems

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family Systems Theory: Flexibility: Balancing Stability and Change Ability of a system (family) to balance both stability and change Open systems (morphogenic) are open to growth and change Closed systems (morphostatic) maintain the status quo

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family Systems Theory: Cohesion: Balance of Separateness and Connectedness Feeling of emotional closeness to others Centrifugal interactions Push family members apart—increasing separatedness Centripetal interactions Pull family members together—increasing togetherness

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family Strengths Framework Strong families serve as models for others and research and exhibit: Commitment Appreciation and affection Positive communication Enjoyable time together Spiritual well being Ability to cope with stress and crises Stinnent, DeFrain & colleague’s

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family Development Framework Views families as they move through various stages of the family life cycle Looks at how families deal with the various developmental tasks associated with each stage Assumes the more efficient a family is at completing tasks the better off it is

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Symbolic Interaction Framework Focuses on symbols which emerge from shared meanings and interactions Focuses on how individuals learn cultural values and roles in the family Focuses on roles and our perceptions and shared meanings Focuses on how we define situations and interactions

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Symbolic Interaction Framework Role: expected behavior of a person or group in a social category e.g. “What is a father supposed to do?” Role Taking: how we learn to play roles correctly by practicing and feedback e.g. “How do men learn to be fathers?” Role Making: creating new roles or revising existing roles

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Social Construction Framework Humans immersed in the social world Humans are products of social world Understandings of the world and families are social products Postmodernism Multiple perspectives versus “one” truth Social world can change—families can change

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Feminist Framework Assumes women are exploited, de- valued, and oppressed Gender central focus Challenge traditional roles Men=instrumental role Women=expressive role Commitment to empowering women

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Three Key Relationship Concepts: Cohesion in Family Systems Feeling of emotional closeness to others Four Levels of Cohesion Disengaged Connected Cohesive Enmeshed

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Four Levels of Family Cohesion

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Flexibility in Family Systems Ability of a system (family) to balance both stability and change Four Levels of Family Flexibility Rigid Structured Flexible Chaotic

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Four Levels of Family Flexibility

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Communication in Couples and Families Facilitate movement across cohesion and flexibility dimensions Six Dimensions Listening skills Speaking skills Self disclosure Clarity Staying on topic Respect and regard

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Couple and Family Map Four levels of cohesion Four levels of flexibility 16 types of couple and family relationships 4x4 Three general types of family systems emerge Balanced Mid-range Extreme

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Dynamics Change in Relationships Over Time © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Value of Couple and Family Map Provides descriptive language Draws from family systems theory, family strengths, and family development frameworks Explains change within couples and families with time or with stresses and challenges Can observe and measure dynamics

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Couple and Family Map Degree of Balance in Problem and Healthy Families