1. An Approach to Family Systems Joanna Grymes Arkansas State University grymesj@astate.edu

2. Family as a System Subsystems; Adaptability & Cohesion Family life cycle stage Family characteristics Family Functions

3. BOUNDARIES Who is a member of the family Who is NOT a member of the family “Flow”

4. Subsystems Marital Parental Sibling External Dyads Triads

5. Adaptability Capacity to change family as needed Roles Rules Discipline High, balanced, low

6. Cohesion Level of “connectedness” Related to emotional closeness and level of independence/interdependence Space Time Decision making Privacy High, balanced, low

7. Family Life Cycle Oldest child Traditional, nuclear family Challenges change based on age of child Newlywed Family with infants/toddlers Family with preschoolers

8. Family Life Cycle Family with elementary school age children Family with adolescents Family with young adults Empty Nest

9. Family Characteristics Structure/make up SES/income/education Geography Resources Values/beliefs/religious orientation Culture/race Individual/community

10. Family Functions Economic needs Daily care Child rearing Affection Affiliation Relaxation/leisure Sexual liaison Reproduction