The New Adventures Of Old Christine

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) in training are tasked with helping a family work through conflict and arrive and more intimate and interdependent relationships, which can seem daunting or maybe even terrifying. However, the interaction patterns that show up in families can find some context and clarity for a therapist who knows systems theory. Systems theory suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from their family context because families create relational processes and generate a “sequence of interactions” and behaviors in order to maintain dynamic stability of the self-regulating family system (Nichols, 2013, pp. 58-59). How does this general systems theory help an MFT guide a family in therapy? In this paper I will take three systems theory principles and apply them to a movie in order to demonstrate how it provides a language and context for MFTs, thus making it an essential tool in family therapy.

The family system theory is a theory developed by Doctor Murray Bowen. It is a theory of human behavior that holds the view that a family is an emotional unit. The family system theory also uses system thinking to explain the complex interactions that exist in the family unit. According to Bowen, people have a tendency to feel disconnected from their families now and then. However, the feeling is just a feeling and not a fact. Bowne also acknowledges that family members have the potential to affect and influence each other to the extent that they appear to have the same emotional dispensation. Family members seek attention, approval, and support from each other thus the existence of a form of interdependence. Bowen, while developing the family system theory, looked at how families develop patterns so as to diffuse anxiety. According to Bowen, too much closeness or too much distance can trigger feelings of anxiety in the family (Titelman, 2014). External stressors and sensitivities can affect the family’s ability to think and respond to relationship dilemmas.

Sitcoms are an American staple, a fantastic pastime, and an in-depth look into current family values and standards. The United States Census Bureau defines the family as two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption residing in the same housing unit. This definition works well as a marker of internal family status, but it is a very limited definition of a family. Sociologists commonly extend the definition of family to include persons who provide one another with intimacy, emotional support, and love as it is a better representation of the families we have seen in the past few decades. Two beloved sitcoms, Friends and New Girl, each center around the lives of six main characters and how they form family in the late 90s and the

The systems Perspective sees human behavior as the outcome of interactions within and among systems with interrelated and interdependent parts; as defined by its boundaries. Changing one part of the system affects other parts and the whole system, with predictable patterns of behavior (Hutchinson, 2015). The family system has been a widely used theory of family interventions and assessment. The family systems theory is focused on the family dynamic, involving structures, roles, communication patterns, boundaries, and power relation (Rothbaum, 2004). Many theorist such as Bowen, developed the systems theory that focuses on how a

To get a full understanding of family theory one must first have the understanding of what is theory. Theory is a systematic collection of concepts and relations. Family however can mean a broad range of things to a person. One person may consider family to be father, mother, sister and brother; however, to someone else family could be just one parent with one child; and to another it could their friends. Family systems theory however defines the family as a system. Family consist of interrelated parts, each impacting the other and adding to each other’s growth (or detriment) of the other. And because family is always changing, growing, self-organizing, and becoming accustomed to each other and the exterior environment (White & Klein, 2008). Now let’s take a look at the

The Family Systems Theory is based on the work of Dr.Murray Bowen as well as other theorists (Chen,2004). Dr. Bowen was a psychiatrist from Georgetown University, it was his research and experience that led to a great understanding of the family and its role. According to Bowen every family member has a fixed role that they play (Bradshaw,1995). These roles are consistently maintained within families, so that the system may strive for

In The Family Crucible, Augustus Napier and Carl Whitaker’s form of therapy was strongly influenced by family systems theory, a burgeoning theory of the time. General systems theory examines relationships between elements that constitute a whole (Andreae, 2011, p. 243). When applied to families, this theory views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit (The

The eight key concepts Bowen family system theory is used to help understand the social system and provide effective ways to solving problems in those areas (Kerr, 2000). The triangle concept is explained as a three-person relationship where it is used to understand the action and emotion of others (Kerr, 2000). Differentiation of self can be explained on how one view themselves in social groups and families (Kerr, 2000). Depending on how someone handles the interaction in social groups and families can affect how a client think and feels about oneself. The nuclear family emotional process focuses on relationship patterns that develop problem in the family. The four basic relationship patters include marital conflict, dysfunction in one spouse, impairment of one or more children, and emotional distance. The family projection process focuses on the process of which parents transmit their emotional problems to their child or children (Kerr). The multigenerational transmission process describes the level

Smith and Hamon, chapter 5, discussed Family Systems Theory (FST), which I found to be not only insightful, but also beneficial to me as I assess my patients and their families, but also as I reflect upon my own family. FST addresses eight assumptions which I found to be engaging and shine light on how families function and how we as APNs might begin to look at the family dynamic in order to better assist these families cope with the stressors of life while at the same time address their family needs in a productive and meaningful way. The following are the eight assumptions of the FST, 3 of which I will briefly discuss for the purpose of this forum discussion: (a) “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts,” (b) “the locus of pathology

The Bowen family systems theory can utilize to understand the Gillison’s family dynamics. According to the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family (2016) the Bowen family system theory views family as an emotional unit that utilizes systems thinking to comprehend the complexity of the interactions within the unit. The theory describes families as having a major influence on their member’s thoughts, feelings and actions, which leads them to feel as if they are composed of the same “emotional skin”. The members of families, according to this theory, are driven by each other’s attention, approval, and support. The members therefore, react to each other’s expectations and wants and needs. The family is therefore interdependent. One change in one member’s function leads to a change in the functioning of the others. This is evidence in the case of the Gillison family.

Bowen family systems theory is based on the view that the family is an emotional unit. The theory uses systems thinking to describe the interactions and relationships within the family. Given families are deeply

In system theory, behaviors and family members responses influence the family pattern and life. Meanings and values are vital components of the

This case study will discuss the dysfunctional relationship of John and Sarah. By having a hypothesis in place and using the family systems theory concept further applying circular questioning to test the hypothesis will help determine where the issues started in their relationship (Burnham & Harris, 1992).

The first part is trying to define the term Family System itself. It gives a very brief overview on the characeristics of a family system and how such a system relates and co-relates to the enviorment. It also gives a short description of the dynamics and dimensions of family systems - cohesion and hierarchy.

System perspective is the procedure that I use in family system theory because it is believed that the functionality of an individual reflects the functionality of a family and shows the way a family functions. Even though individuals can exhibit symptoms that are different from that in the family, they usually have impact on the rest of family members (Broderick, 1993). Family system theory is therefore concerned with changing the family system as a strategy of changing the individual. This is achieved through alteration of the dysfunctional systems of incorporating and integrating functional systems of interacting. In our Christian counseling process Family systems theory has been applied to solve various dilemmas in a family set up and has been very successful. There are limited categories that this therapy has