Family Dynamics Can Be Composed By Emotional And Health Patterns

A conscious level can be teaching other family member whereas an unconscious level is emotional behaviors or reactions (Bowen Theory, 2014). Parents actively shape their children while children respond to their parent attitudes, moods and actions. The consequence of parents shaping their children is parents cause their children to have the same level of differentiation as the parents. The children may then seek out mates with the same level of differentiation as mentioned in nuclear family emotional process. The levels of differentiation becomes more distinct over multigenerational as the differentiation is repeated through generations (Bowen Theory, 2014). The different levels of differentiation can affect the whole life functions of a multigenerational family from marital stability, longevity, health, reproduction, educational success or failure, and occupational success (Bowen Theory, 2014). The transmission occurring through multigenerational not only affect an individual’s sense of self but how the interact with other people.

While taking Introductory Sociology with Professor Cole Smith this semester, the course revealed concepts covering various topics about society and the world around us. During the course, the ideas and concepts covered were impressionable because of the nature of the content. Each chapter discussed controversial topics challenging the way the students previously perceived information. However, there are chapters in this course that have been the most influential. For example, chapter one covered the theoretical perspectives, chapter four examined the concept of the social construction of reality, and chapter twelve exploring the family dynamic. Although each chapter provided insight on various subjects, the information allows for the reader

Nuclear family emotional system is a concept describing four primary relationship patterns of emotional functioning, which are matrimonial conflict, dysfunction in a spouse, impairment in children, and emotional detachment (Haefner, 2014). Family reactions to such are imitations of previous generations, as well as predictors of how future generations will react. The family projective process is when children inherit the strengths and weaknesses of their parents, such as emotional issues (Haefner, 2014). Multigenerational transmission is the progression of family ideals and traditions to multiple generations, which are either supportive or detrimental (Haefner, 2014).

The 10 dimensions of Family Stress are a way to describe a family stressor. Lipman-Blumen created a list of 10 dimensions that family stressors are based on. These ten categories are: internal vs external, pervasive vs bounded, precipitate onset vs gradual onset, intense vs mild, transitory vs chronic, random vs expected, natural generation vs artificial generation, scarcity vs surplus, perceived insolvable vs perceived solvable, and substantive context. Some of these factors may seem obvious and others may not. Some may have a direct influence on the stressor and others may not. But, each of these can lead to a crisis if not taken seriously. For all of these categories, I think it all depends on the crisis and each situation.

As we know families as always changing and so are the dynamics. Communication is a transactional process that is changing over time. Two central scopes of family behavior are adaptability and cohesion. Each is divided into four levels to create 16 combinations. Overtime it has changed to fit into cohesion, adaptability and communication.

The ways in which a family communicates messages with each other plays a key role in shaping the lives of each individual family member. Humans have always belonged to and identified with their families even before they could speak or form any other social group. Family members not only rely on each other to be there for emotional and social support, but also shape how individuals identify themselves. Therefore, the quality of family relationships greatly impacts the quality of life for most people. (Koerner & Schrodt, 2014)

Although families may not always feel this connectedness, it is always there. The emotional climate of the family is interdependent of what is going on in the family as a whole. If one unit of the family is distant emotionally, it can have a great affect on the whole family. These attitudes are reciprocated throughout the entire family. It is important that most family members are able to stay healthy emotionally and have that ability to communicate their feelings to one another. Problems arise when individuals don’t fulfill their roles that are needed from all family members. Michael Kerr, explained this idea in an article he wrote to explain the family system theory. He explained that “heightened tension can intensify these processes that promote that promote unity and teamwork, and this can lead to problems” (Kerr,

That is, the nuclear family's relationship-or lack of relationship-to the extended family or the community may play a huge part in functioning. Ackerman (1958) viewed family work as a special method of treatment of emotional disorders based on dynamically oriented interviews with the whole family. This looks at the who, what, where, when, why, and how of family. The goal is to bring to the surface all the "contributors" (person or thing) of the issue and map out ways to manage it.

Every family has their own individual problems that they deal with; no family is perfect. Children go through abuse, witness their parents abuse alcohol and drugs, and experience abandonment causing them not to feel loved. Unfortunately for the child, experiencing these things puts them more at risk for repeating the cycle, and going down the same path that their parents did. The focus of this literature review is to determine how the cycle of family dysfunction can be broken. As I searched for supporting articles the articles that stuck out to me were the ones that dealt with the causes of family dysfunction and the ways to help break the cycle of family dysfunction.

A genogram is a diagram that shows family members and their relationships. The information can sometimes include, ages, dates, deaths, and or geographic locations. Males are represented by squares and females are represented by circles. The horizontal lines indicate marriage; while the vertical line indicates parents and children. This paper outlines the assessment and analysis of the three generation of the Jones and Sheffield family, relationships, structures, and health struggles. The interview was conducted by myself (Katroya) and the interviewer was my mother (Sheryl).

Genograms are used to graphically represent a family tree and display detailed data on relationships among the individuals included in the family tree. In essence, families are complex systems that interact with kin groups in specific ways, and a genogram helps to show a diagram of a family tree, but also maps out interactions, relationships, traits, and characteristics that may otherwise not be noticed. The purpose of a genogram is to identify and understand patterns in family history which may influence an individual’s personal behavior and traits. Family Systems Theory, presented by Dr. Murray Bowen, suggests that an individual cannot be understood in isolation from their family members. According to Dr. Bowen, the family is an emotional

Mapping out relationships and interactions between a family system can present a visual aspect to assist with understanding the function as a unit. Creating a genogram gives the clients realizations of why family traditions exist and traits that family members pass from generation to generation.

Rooted in systems theory, Murray Bowen’s Bowen family systems therapy acknowledges the family as a multigenerational emotional system (Nichols, 2013). This model perceives the family as an interconnected network of emotional reactivity that shapes family dynamics and interaction patterns. Bowen proposed eight interlocking concepts to elucidate familial patterns: differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional system, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process, emotional cutoff, sibling position, and societal emotional process (Nichols, 2013). It also views families through an individual and collective lens, assessing how members’ emotionally driven

Murray Bowen, an American psychiatrist, began developing what would become known as the family systems theory during the mid-20th century. He believed that the family was an emotional unit and that it could be best understood by looking not just at current family interactions but the interactions of prior generations as well (Helm, 2009). His focus was on using theory, not therapy, to treat the patient and the cornerstone of that theory is that human behavior is based on a person being able to “maintain intimacy with loved ones while differentiating themselves sufficiently as individuals so as not to be swept up by what is transpiring within the family” (p. 205).

Every family has a unique system with a set of rules, mostly unspoken, that govern their behavior and interactions. In dysfunctional families, the symptom of their dysfunction is typically sourced within their family system. The symptom also has a function – it protects family members from uncomfortable conflict. Dysfunctional families and couples often maintain negative patterns of interacting, and are unable to transition into new behavioral patterns without therapeutic intervention. In order to help families develop out of their systematic ways of behaving, it is important to understand the specific family system that is presented. With a keen understanding of the family’s culture, beliefs, etc., the therapist can develop therapeutic rituals, which are prescribed actions aimed at altering behavioral patterns that are responsible for maintaining the symptom. The ritual is not a verbal explanation or criticism of the family system, rather it is a specific set of actions designed to help families create new patterns of interaction and meaning in their relationships. (p, 5).