Functional Families : Components : Communication, Family Roles, And Problem Solving

The Structural functional theory is focused on the gender roles of a family. The female is the homemaker

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)

One goal for the therapist is to determine what the structure is, and then decide whether it is problematic for the family or not. According to Minuchin (1974), “Family structure is the invisible set of functional demands that organizes the ways in which family members interact” (Minuchin p. 51). Additionally, Gladding (2007) suggested:

The family had a communal dinner every night during which we saw many examples of arguments, and difficulty expressing feelings appropriately (Hallström et al., 1993). Effective family communication is important because it is an exchange of emotions and more emotions are expressed in the context of the family relationships than any other relational context leading to more chances for positive and negative reactions (Duffield, Fitness 2004)

According to Minuchin (1985), six basic principles outline the Family Systems theory. Each principle describes the function in which a family and its subsystems operate and the inextricable relationships within the system. The first principle of Minuchin’s (1985) theory implies that each member develops and is enveloped within the family unit, while the second principle states that there is a continuous loop in which each member feeds the behaviours of another. Thirdly, family systems have homeostatic elements which restore the family back to its equilibrium when disarrayed (Minuchin, 1985).

Another concept views the Family as a Component of Society, this structural-functional theory addresses the family on a broader scale in terms of their contributions, needs and successes like other social systems (eg., educational and healthcare system (p.90, 2003).

Members of a family learn what is acceptable within the family. We also can know through body language when a family member is stressed, angry, happy, or sad. We learn appropriate ways to interact based on non-verbal communication (Cherlin, 2008, p.24, 29).

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.

Functionalist looks at society on a macro level. It is a consensus theory and structuralists prefer to use functionalism as it agrees with their ideals and models and they prefer to look at society as a whole. Functionalists are interested in studying what family is most functional.

In many ways family systems theory can be seen as a broad field where there many different implications that make up the system, it is a system. A system is a set of objects that are bound together by a relationship, which are based around the attributes of the objects as drawn upon by (Janet.BB, 1982). Family systems theory addresses the many different ideals and values that make up a typical family, these include the roles each member of the family, the power relations either from the male of the family or both parents of the family, the boundaries that are set within the family to ensure that the structure of the family is secure, in both individualistic and collectivist families this can be seen (Fred Rothbaum, 2002).

Each family and each relationship has inputs and outputs within it. Inputs are received and used by the system to perform its designated function or achieve it goal. Outputs are outcomes or by-products of the system's activity that are returned to the environment. In other words, inputs are the impressions, experiences and interactions a family has ever day. Outputs are the results that are created from those experiences, impressions and interactions that are returned to the environment. Every input directly impacts the output, thus making it very important to expose oneself to positive outputs (Bryannan, 2000). Rules of operation are very important in the function of a family system. Rules of operation are guidelines that prescribe what is expected, allowed, and prohibited in a given set of circumstance. The rules of operation dictate what should happen and what should not happen . They create structure within the system that all members are to follow. Every single family has a different set of rules of operation, but every family at least has a small network of rules (Brown, 1999)

The structural family theory developed by Salvador Minuchin in the 1960’s, used to focus structural change within a dysfunctional family. The purpose of understanding the structure of the family has been to assist in creating a healthy balance within the

Evaluate the functionalist view of the family by referring to for example, the view that the family has lost functions/role due to structural differentiation.

3. Become aware of the “alive versus the inanimate” and “familiar versus unfamiliar” and develop rudimentary social interaction.