Influence of Family History in Shaping Patterns of Behavior

The family system is founded on the notions that for change to occur in the life of an individual, the therapist must understand and work with the family as a whole. In working with the family, the therapist can understand how the individual in counseling functions within his family system and how the client’s behaviors connect to other people in the family. This theory also holds the perception that symptoms are a set of family habits and patterns passed down by generation and not a result of a psychological problem or an inability to change (Corey, 2017). Furthermore, the family system theory holds the idea that when a change occurs everyone in the unit is affected by the change.

Family is something that plays a tremendous role in our life. Even though the structure of families has changed over the years, it is important to acknowledge that there many families out there whether they are traditional families, nuclear family, stepfamilies or others which tend to have different types of problems in their families. Therefore, many families attempt to go to family therapy in order for them to obtain help in solving the different types of issues they might have at home. As stated in the book Family Therapy by Michael P. Nichols (2013), “The power of family therapy derives from bringing parents and children together to transform their interaction… What keeps people stuck in their inability to see their own participation in the problems that plague them. With eyes fixed firmly on what recalcitrant others are doing, it’s hard for most people to see the patterns that bind them together. The family therapist’s job is to give them a wake-up call” (2013).

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.

Developed by Carter and McGoldrick (1988), the family life cycle views dysfunction in relation to normal functioning, It frames problems within the course of the family as a system moving through time. The individual life cycle takes place within the family life cycle (Carter & McGoldrick, 1988, p. 4). The foundation of the theory assumes that all families go through predictable change precipitated by life events and sometimes-unpredictable events (Azar, 2017b, 6). As these changes are occurring, the family must be able to adapt accordingly in order to avoid dysfunction. This may involve tasks that must be negotiated as they become more complex, and new roles and operations.

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.

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,

In the book The Family Crucible it gave detailed insight into the effort and knowledge necessary to assess and assist a family unit to bring homeostasis back into their lives. From the beginning to the end this book thoroughly covers the story of a family who believes their problems stems from one individual and come to find out there are other underlying issues that play into the initial reason for setting their first family therapy appointment. While the story unfolds there were several new insights and challenges brought to my attention.

When observing families who have experienced vertical stressors coupled with common horizontal stressors, remarkably, individual family members find "self in relation" (Genero, Miller, Surrey, & Baldwin, 1992). This type of connectedness may actually speak to the family’s strong cultural practice of rituals and beliefs that are not based in societal norms of egotism. Such diversity often includes families who encompass a holistic approach to life including the life domains of physical, emotional, social and spiritual. According to Rothery and Enns (2001) this strength-based approach to family instills hope, when once attained has been cited as an essential component for post-traumatic growth and enhanced

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

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.

Deborah’s family system has had a great influence on her, in her relationships and her family as an adult. In particular, it will be shown that many of the behaviours that Deborah currently enacts are a result of the practice of homeostasis, that is, “the tendency for families to develop recurrent patterns of interaction which help them to maintain stability, particularly under stress” (Carr, 2012, n.p.). From completing this analysis, Deborah developed a new awareness of herself, her family dynamics and her

This study by Decker, Dunkel, Kelts, Kesserlring, Mathes (2015) was done to measure life history and the influences of maternal and parental sensitivity in childhood, and parental authoritative parenting in late adolescence on developing life history strategies. The study suggests that the sensitive of the parents in early childhood and in late adolescence will affect their life history. Life history theory is explaining human individual differences, parenting influences in the early development. Promislow & Harvey, (1990, 1991). In this

Does (do) the student (s) perceive a relationship between the behaviors and the consequences of the behavior? I believe that Naidhurva have a clear understanding between behavior and consequences. She realize that education is important and in order for her to continue her extracurricular activities , she need to excel in her education.

There is a common misconception is that children who grow up in low income families end up being more susceptible to experience behavioral problems as they get older, in contrast to that of high income families which generally speaking, people believe children are better off. The report Associations between Family Structure Change and Child Behavior Problems: The Moderating Effect of Family Income challenges the false impression associated with low income families. The analysis was conducted by three experts from Georgetown University Rebecca Ryan, Anna Markowitz, and Amy Claessens. The report analyzed the different structures of low income families, middle and high income families to better determine whether economic structure played a role in the behaviors of children. The study focused on a specific age group between 3 to 12 years old. Additionally, the study took in to account other changes in a family structure – single mothers, divorce, and father’s involvement in the child’s life. The study illustrated that “significant associations between family changes and child behavior problems emerged only for changes experienced during early childhood and preschool.” Furthermore the data shows that children born into high income families are in fact more fragile to changes in the family structure and that economic status is not necessarily indicative to child behaviors.

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).