1. To Know from Schrodt (2009)
Basics of Koerner & Fitzpatrick’s (2002) General Theory of Family Comm
Associat. b/w family strength & satisfaction among:
Expressiveness
Struct.Traditionalism
ConflictAvoid.

2. Family Communication (Fitzpatrick & Ritchie, 1994)
Values open, controversial discussion
Kids stimulated to express ideas, even if disagree
Conventional beliefs about marriage, conformity orientation and power plays
Stresses mainten. of harmony & IP relations
Kids encouraged to avoid controversy & repress anger

3. How to ID a Family System TYPE
COHESION
Emotional bonding twrd one another
FLEXIBILITY
Amount of change in leadership, roles, rules
COMMUNICATION
Group norms
Listening
Speaking
Clarity
Self-disclosure
Continuity-tracking (meta-comm.)
Respect
Regard

4. CIRCUMPLEX MODEL (Olson, 2000) Patterns & Environment
Largely based on Cohesion/Flexibility dimension of family systems theory
COHESION
Ability to balance separateness & togetherness
FLEXIBILITY
Ability to adjust/adapt

5. COHESION types/levels
Extreme, emotional separateness & Little involvement b/w
Lot of personal separateness & indep.
Indiv’s “do their own thing” & have separate interests
Some emot. separateness but not as extreme
Time apart important, but some together & some joint decision-making
Activities/interests generally separate but few are shared
Some emot closeness & loyalty
Time together more important than time apart; Emphasis on togetherness
Separate friends, but also shared
Extreme emot closeness & loyalty demanded; Indiv’s very depend & reactive
General lack of personal separateness & little privacy permitted
Energy of indiv’s mainly focused inside family & few outside friends/interests

7. Family flexibility has four levels
Chaotic
Flexible
Structured
Rigid

8. Rigidly Enmeshed Negotiations Rules are Roles are Little
Time together & little
Few
Decisions made

9. Chaotically Disengaged
Little
Limited
Impulsive
Frequently changing
Emotional
Low
Private space
Individual

12. COMMUNICATION!
Continuum: Open to Closed
REVIEW

13. Environment  Permeability?
So what affects Comm/Structural Flow….?