Systems A system is three or more people. A dyad is two people, except one parent and one child which is a mini-system. Generally systems are broken into four types: 1)Family 2) School 3) Community 4) National Larger systems may or may not be more difficult to change than smaller ones.

Identities Identities are the individual personalities and relationships within a dyad and/or system There are 3 identities in any dyad There are 7 identities in a system of 3 There are 15 identities in a system of 4 And there are 31 identities in a system of 5 The formula is 2 to the nth power - 1

Functionality Systems run on a continuum of functionality They are not dichotomous On one side, they are ultimately functional and on the other side they are ultimately dysfunctional (for example, they can run on a scale from 1-100)

Qualities of functionality Dysfunctional -Abusive, alcoholic, addict -Closed, Secretive -Pessimistic -Rigid & Inflexible, Chaotic -Unhealthy or no communication -Angry, Violent -Contains an IP Functional -Sober -Open, Non-Secretive -Optimistic -Flexible & Fair -Good, healthy communication -Peaceful, Safe -Does not contain an IP

IP IP stands for Identified Patient An IP is normally between the ages of An IP is someone who usually gets blamed for all of the family problems and is scapegoated for problems that are not even his/her fault.

IP Cont’d IP’s have low frustration tolerance IP’s can be external or internal External IP’s are outwardly hostile, angry and difficult. They yell, scream, cuss and “get in the face” of the parent. Externals can be violent.

IP Cont’d Internal IP’s are quietly angry. They will become depressed, withdrawn and isolated. They are more likely to cut and self-abuse. Gender differentiation-While more boys used to be external and girls internal, this has now changed over the past 10 years. There is NO gender differentiation anymore.

Changing the IP Changing the IP is a difficult task because of the low frustration tolerance but it can be achieved. Changing the IP can change the system but not always. Systems are homeostatic by Nature.

Homeostasis Homeostasis refers to the tendency for organisms to stay the same. Maintaining homeostasis means keeping the balance. This is a positive concept biologically but a negative concept emotionally. Breaking homeostasis means creating a change. This change can be positive or it can create risks in the system which are not always positive.

5 Results from changing the IP When an IP commits to LONG-TERM CHANGE, five results are likely to occur: 1) The system will worsen and maybe even become chaotic. Sometimes the IP will even be sabotaged to return to the way they were in order to restore the homeostasis.

IP Change Results 2) The IP will worsen-If things don’t go well, the IP will often go back to the way they were or even worsen their behavior prompting a REMOVAL OF THE IP FROM THE SYSTEM. This means they might be kicked out or sent away. Within 6 months of removal of an IP, usually a younger family member becomes the new IP.

IP Change Results 3) The IP will voluntarily leave the system. This is usually done in 2 typical ways: A) The IP runs away or goes to live elsewhere B) The IP attempts or commits suicide

IP Change Results 4) The system improves. If the entire system can work to change in a healthier manner, than the IP is no longer IP’d as he or she gets healthier and the system begins to realize that the problem is much more than the individual.

IP Change Results 5) Someone else is removed from or voluntarily leaves the system. -Sometimes another healthy and viable alternative is that for the IP to stay, someone else must leave. This is usually in the form of divorce.

More on the IP Keep in mind that healthy systems do not have IP’s but they certainly can have kids that are just pains and difficult to deal with. In essence, a healthy family can turn into an unhealthy family because of a difficult child, and then that difficult child can become the IP.