Family Communication In The Four Levels Of Family Behavior

Further application of system theory to communication involved the idea that families are governed by family rules and maintained homeostasis within the family via positive

The definition of family dynamics refers to the way members of the family interact with each other in relation to the group as a whole. A lot of influences affect the dynamics between family members such as traditions, communication styles, behavioral patterns and emotional interdependence. In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis relates to how humans and their offspring are capable of changing and interpreting different life experiences in the family that can transform the dynamic bond.

Reconstruction and change are essential for the family system to facilitate the homeostatic process, as explained by the fourth principle of the theory (Minuchin, 1985). It includes family questioning current methods, evaluating and developing potential arrangements. While earlier principles analyse the wholeness of the family system, the fifth principle explains that families can be examined in various segments such as the parent-children subsystem, sibling subsystem and spousal subsystem (Minuchin, 1985). Within the family, relationships between members are formed, and the interactions between each subsystem are regulated by unspoken rules and arrangements, and this is the final principle of family systems theory (Minuchin, 1985). Each subsystem operates independently, and it may encounter changes in the relationship due to various determinants.

Both Andrew and his biological mother indicated that they often do not seek help from their external systems, which indicates that there are some rigid boundaries. Minuchin argues that rigid boundaries present in family dynamics can become an obstacle when exploring alternate solutions and lead to family dysfunction (Tuner, 2011). Families need to maintain a healthy balance and consistency to successfully maintain both adaptability and a sense of order while promoting change and growth within their members (Tuner, 2011). According to Greene (2008), families that have positive and dynamic interactions with the external systems have effective communication and internal

Dysfunctional families tend to develop unspoken rules that govern the way the family operates. Rule 1) Rigidity – Dysfunctional families develop ways of operating that become entrenched over time. There is an expectation to always act in a certain way. Roles are defined and members are expected to stick to them. Rule 2) Silence – Dysfunctional families encourage and enforce a conspiracy of silence in the family. Any issues or problems are not spoken about. Rule 3) Denial – Dysfunctional families tend to operate in a state of denial about the problem the family is facing. If they deny the problem hard enough and long enough they may begin to doubt their own perceptions and intuitions. Rule 4) Isolation – Dysfunctional families tend to hide the

When I consider family systems, I am reminded of a metaphor I heard while in undergraduate school about a mobile. A mobile is used to soothe an infant, normally placed above a crib or basinet. Each of its parts are in balance, when working correctly, however if one section becomes off balance the objects become out of sync. This is true with families. If each member of the family unit is doing their part, there is complete balance or homeostasis (Henson). This balance is viewed as a healthy family system. However, if one part of the unit becomes off balance, it disrupts the whole unit causing an unhealthy response with possible long term consequences. As families grow, each member plays an equally important role in the family unit. Children learn quickly the importance of relationships and adapt quickly to their environment. No one can deny the family unit is the most complex system in existence.

The second chapter, of the book “Family Interaction”, focuses on the theme of family strategies and boundaries. While reading, I noticed that my family has similarities and dissimilarities with other family members. Several topics that interested me were open and closed boundaries, and maintenance resources. My family is enmeshed and has internal boundaries, but other members of my family are on a continuum. For example, my family is very accepting and open to letting friends and spouses come over our house for special occasions the holidays. However, as a family we can be very different as a sub-unit. For example, with my mother I was often allowed to stay the night over a friend’s house, and later when I got older my boyfriends were allowed

family unit, and will become a way of being independent of their role in the dysfunctional family. Any

It is impossible to know what goes on with a couple when they are alone. During the

One way to improve this would be to ensure that you build trusting relationships with parents, families and children. Effective communication with families is essential in ensuring that they can be confident with the education and care their child is receiving. This allows for mutual trust and appreciation of each other’s knowledge and experience. Make families feel welcome and respected and offer them ways to be involved in and contribute to the service if they wish

Family structure refers to; who is included and excluded from the family; who is in charge of each home, and whose needs and behaviors cause the main decisions in calm and troubled times; relationship bonds and boundaries, or lack of them; the roles and rules that govern how members need(s) get met or do not; family member alliances and antagonisms, and communication blocks in and between people and homes (Gerlach, 2015). For example, a family structure could include a father, mother, and two children. The father is the breadwinner while the mother stays at home. The children play their role by attending school, and doing certain chores around the home. The mother has a role to take care of the children and keep the house in order. The father’s role is to bring the money home, and discipline the children when needed. The fourth concept is adaptability “It is the consequence of the family’s meeting the collective needs of its members and responding effectively to the demands placed on it by external forces. Thus, it is the product of both internal and external adjustment strategies through which the family achieves a level of fit between its needs and relational resources and the demands placed on it by its environment” (Heath & Orthner, 1999). A coping mechanism is an example for adaptation and a positive coping mechanism is as follows; coping with the illness or injury through directly addressing its impact on the family. This may mean adding wheelchair ramps to the home, for example, to directly deal with a physical condition, or accompanying a family member to the hospital for substance abuse treatment (Grunert, 2015). The last key concept is family themes. Family themes are those elements of the family experience that become organizing principles for family life. They include both conscious and unconscious elements as well as intellectual (attitudes, beliefs, values) and emotional aspects. The family’s themes become the threads

In this week, my class moved to a new topic, which is “The Family Circumplex Model”. In this model, I learned about three factors: cohesion, flexibility, and communication. This model was developed by David Olson. For cohesion factor, there are two sides or two types of family: disengaged and enmeshed. In disengaged family, people tend to be lack of communication and lack of loyalty. In addition, family members feel like decreasing sense of belonging and trust each other. However, the good point is each member would have more independent life. The can develop and pursue their goals without much interfere. As a result, when stress comes to this family, the whole family tends to take some times to deal with stress because they are not together

Communication in divorced or step-families is a worldwide growing topic. This topic has affected so many families and tends to stick with them as they try and cope to overcome the negative drawback associated with the situation. I feel that there is not enough attention drawn on this serious matter that occurs in homes and families on a daily basis. I believe this assignment will allow me to learn some statistical data about communication in divorced or step-families and the effects it has on each member of the family. Knowing how to communicate is very important and if done in an unhealthy way it can lead to conflict and cause lack of cooperation from one or all parties involved.

The family communication pattern is the means of describing interactions between parent and children in a family and also predicts how the communication pattern affects the children’s psychosocial and emotional development (Tajalli, F., 2015). The family communication pattern consists of two primary dimensions. They are family’s conversation orientation and the other being family’s conformity orientation. Conversation orientation refers to the degree to which family communication patterns are characterized by an open and unrestrained exchange of ideas. In contrast, conformity orientation refers to the degree to which family interactions are characterized by an emphasis on homogeneity of attitudes, values, and beliefs (Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 2002). All the families fall either in high or low combinations of these two orientations. Depending

Communication in my family was viewed as significant, open and honest. My parents made certain if we had issues or concerns or if they had issues or concerns that were addressed. My parents would encourage and provide an atmosphere of trust, guidance, and reverence. This set the tone for each of my siblings and myself to feel comfortable when communicating with our parents. My siblings and I communicated with the same level of integrity valuing each other’s point of view, agreeing, agreeing to disagree, and feeling valued as a member of the family. Whenever a situation of conflict arose my parents would sit the disagreeing parties down listened to all points of views, gave a conversation about the situation, ask for feedback, and made their decision based on facts that were presented. There was no harsh or iron fist ruling my parents were very fair, however, you knew that they were in charge.