Three Generations Research Paper

Family Genogram “The family life cycle phases” was very relatable once I began to I was raised mostly by mom after my father wasn’t in place once I was 10. I learned, both my paternal great-grandparents are deceased bon in the years 1909 and 1911. I do however remember a slight glimpse my father’s mother (my grandmother). She would always have homemade chocolate chip cookies for me every time I come visit. She passed away when I was 12. My father dad (my grandfather), I don’t remember much about him. I only remember that he enjoyed fishing, but never would invite me on his trips because he would say “It’s too dangerous out on the water kiddo”. Unfortunately, he too was diagnosed with cancer and passed when I was

(A) Background. Family Dynamics Family dynamics can have a positive effect on child’s development because the child will feel settle and have a positive input into their lives and good support to help them develop and achieve what they want to achieve, this has a positive effect on their behaviour to. If family dynamics are negative then this have a negative affect on their developments such as divorce because the child may be spending time at different house and having one parent missing so they will feel unsettled and not able to concentrate on things. They may also experience missing one of their parents of relatives being in prison.

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

This approach believes that all aspects of development of the person should be looked at, as they all interact with one another (7). In this theory you have: microsystems, exosystems, macrosystems, chronosystems, and mesosystems. Microsystems being what we commonly consider to be the “nurture” of a child, family and caregivers. Exosystems are places such as school, macrosystems consist of the economy, politics, and the cultural values placed by parents or by geographic location, and chronosystem is the time or era that the child is being brought up in (7). Then there is the mesosystem which is the combining of all other groups. This belief is similar to that of epigenetics, all aspects interact with one another to create the fully developed human

The foundation of the structural approach is “to challenge the family organization, which leads to symptom reduction because a new structure develops in the family—one with more functional interactional patterns” (Reiter, 2016). It comes down to focusing on what is the cause of the problem and what needs to be done to resolve it. Some assumptions that are related to this theory can include families normally related to one another in “patterned ways that are observable and predictable” (Linblad-Goldberg & Northey, 2013), most families have rules that each must follow and roles they are to play in the family unit, when they get off balance then dysfunction can and normally does occur. It is important that families have boundaries which include both inside and outside of the family. Families also have subsystems which can be based on either generation or genders.

The final stage is the “family in later life”. During this stage, individuals must accept the shifting of generational roles, as they become the grandparents. They must be able to let go of some power to their offspring as they find their new place in the family system. Dealing with this change while facing potential decline in health, financial security, and loss of spouse can be stressful. Grandparenthood can be a reward substitute (Carter & McGoldrick, 1988, p. 20).

Initially, I would proceed with the Bowenian family therapy assessment tool, genograms. I anticipate there might be slight hesitation from Ken, the father who was described to initially present to therapy as, “extreme hostility t being forced into therapy.” It might be a useful tactic to remind the family as a whole that, due to them family unit feeling, “out of sorts” to work together in session and create a family genogram, we might be able to detect some generational patterns. It would be my hope, as a therapist, to work collaboratively with the entire family asking for feedback from everyone. Working collaboratively with the entire family, it is my attempt and hope to engage both Anne and Timothy, who were described as being “extremely quiet and not involved in the conversation”.

Today genograms are used in psychology and medical settings to identify the connection between families and identify how members of the family communicate with one another. There are several types of genograms that created for many reasons such as ethical, career, and sexual. This genogram helps an individual map out the connection of their contextual history with their framework. My experience of creating a genogram was an amazing feeling and it helped me discover several factors that occur in life as an adult. The interview with mom helps me to identify a lot of unknown features that can be possible genetically transmitted to my children. During my genogram creation, a few explanations of conflicts were discussed according to family member’s characteristics and beliefs. Discovery of my genogram alerts me with the many personalities that I share with my family. While reading this book I was eager to finish the book because of the interested information that was listed to help me understand my developmental structures.

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 I interview Karla Bly who lives in Sioux Center. Mrs. Bly is married and has four children between the ages 25 and 12. She is 48 years old and has lived in Iowa for her entire life. The stage of life that Karla is in is middle adult hood, it is defined as, “The developmental period beginning at approximately 40 years of age and extending to about 60 to 65 years of age. For many people. Middle adult-hood is a time of declining physical skills and expanding responsibility.” (Santrock, 336) When Karla was in her 20’s and 30’s she thought that she knew everything, but it turned out that she did not know everything yet. When she was in her 20’s she had three little children running around at home, things were busy and chaotic.

In the documentary “Time for School 3”, aired in 2009, executive producer Pamela Hogan, conducted an informative and thought-provoking project, which scrutinized the lives of seven children living in Afghanistan, Benin, Brazil, India, Japan, Kenya, and Romania. Despite

The objective of doing the genogram is to get to know the patient by gaining understanding of his/her family background. Assessing the family using systemic approach enables health care providers to learn about the ways in which family members interact, what are the family expectations and norms, how effective is

Middle Adulthood: Care – Generativity vs. Stagnation – This is the period of development during which most people have children. People who are able to provide guidance or a legacy to the next generation feel a sense of purpose, while people who do not do so may feel stuck.

In Erik Erikson theory this stage is “Achieving a sense of generativity while avoiding self-absorption and stagnation (middle-age)” (Crisp and Taylor 2010, p.149). This stage is described as the focus of raising children and to sacrifice their own needs for others. (Crisp and Taylor 2010, p.149). Mrs Green may find that her relationship with her children is stronger, and may have a very active social life as she may be getting ready to retire from work (Koutoukidis, Stainton & Hughson 2013, p.224).

Family Developmental Theory Historical Development • Family developmental theory is an approach to studying families, which is useful in explaining patterned change, the dynamic nature of the family, and how change occurs in the family life cycle.

Life Cycle: Early Adulthood Throughout the Human Behavior and the Social Environment course, we have encompassed the many stages of the life cycle process. Now that I am twenty two years old, I found the early adulthood stage to be the most influential, and the most sensible one to relate to given the point that I am at in my life. More importantly, I decided to research and apply this life cycle stage to a variety of milestones, experienced by my interviewee, Chelsie. Living just houses apart, being raised by single fathers, Chelsie and I found that we had many things in common. We have remained friends since we were children, and have only grown to be closer into our early adulthood years.