Family Crucible Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Who are the therapists in Family Crucible?

Gus Napier and Carl Whitaker

Who are the family members in the Family Crucible?

Father - David, Mother - Carolyn, Oldest child - Claudia, Middle child - Don, Youngest child - Laura

What is systems thinking?

Understanding how things influence one another within a whole.

What are family rules?

Guidelines often unstated that define acceptable or unacceptable behaviors in a family. Signup and view all the answers

Who is missing in the first therapy session?

Don Signup and view all the answers

How did the therapist react to Don's absence?

They did not allow therapy to start. Signup and view all the answers

What was the major concern from the family?

Claudia may run away for good or attempt suicide. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between David and Carolyn according to Don?

They argue about Claudia and her actions. Signup and view all the answers

What is Laura's biggest fear?

That Claudia will kill herself. Signup and view all the answers

Was there separation between the parents before Claudia's outburst?

True Signup and view all the answers

Who feels betrayed by David?

Claudia Signup and view all the answers

What does acute situational stress refer to?

Coping with a life suddenly altered by new circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

What does interpersonal stress involve?

Conflict and disunity between people who are normally expected to cooperate. Signup and view all the answers

What is intrapersonal stress?

War within oneself. Signup and view all the answers

What do family therapists like to focus on?

Interpersonal stress Signup and view all the answers

What is polarization and escalation?

Positive feedback spiral moving away from the norm. Signup and view all the answers

What is triangulation in family therapy?

Two parents emotionally estranged from each other involving their children. Signup and view all the answers

How was triangulation set up in the Brice family?

David leaned on Claudia for emotional support while Carolyn was jealous. Signup and view all the answers

What does blaming refer to in family dynamics?

Finding a scapegoat. Signup and view all the answers

What is diffusion of identity?

Family is as one unit but needs to work on finding themselves. Signup and view all the answers

What is stasis?

Fear of immobility or fear of death. Signup and view all the answers

What is at the base of Carolyn's problems communicating?

The relationship with her mother. Signup and view all the answers

What does Carolyn need to work on to improve family function?

Learn to fight and believe in herself. Signup and view all the answers

What is an identified patient?

The person the family views as primarily responsible for their problems. Signup and view all the answers

What is a coalition/alliance in family dynamics?

Family members who join together as allies for support. Signup and view all the answers

What are family roles?

Recurrent patterns of behavior by which individuals fulfill a function in the family. Signup and view all the answers

What is family dance?

Repeated complex patterns of interaction exhibited during distress. Signup and view all the answers

What is systematic conceptualization of behavior or symptoms?

Considering social context impacts on behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is an expressive agent?

The person who expresses repressed feelings in the family system. Signup and view all the answers

What does content vs. interactional process refer to?

The difference between what is discussed and how it is discussed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a double bind?

A no-win situation where contradictory demands lead to negative consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What is circular vs linear causality?

Mutual influence among family members vs. unidirectional cause and effect. Signup and view all the answers

What is a marital/relationship dream?

The hope for an ideal partner who fulfills all needs. Signup and view all the answers

What is central life fear?

Core concerns based on early relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What is a relationship dilemma?

Contradiction between hopes and fears in a relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What is repetition compulsion?

Recreation of past dynamics in relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What is transference process in the family?

Unconscious transfer of unresolved issues onto family members. Signup and view all the answers

What is pursuer-distancer pattern?

One person seeks contact while the other withdraws. Signup and view all the answers

What are family life cycle issues?

Tasks and adjustments required at each life cycle stage. Signup and view all the answers

What is re-establish generational hierarchy?

Reasserting parental power and boundaries with children. Signup and view all the answers

What is parentification?

A child elevated to parental level to meet a parent's needs. Signup and view all the answers

What are intergenerational patterns?

Replication of interactional dynamics across generations. Signup and view all the answers

What is homeostasis in family systems?

The family's attempt to maintain equilibrium. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between public and private family experiences?

Public image vs. private experience of family life. Signup and view all the answers

What are family boundaries?

Level of openness to interacting with others. Signup and view all the answers

What is family cohesion?

Degree of closeness or distance between family members. Signup and view all the answers

What is family adaptability?

Degree to which a family operates predictably or chaotically. Signup and view all the answers

What is Family Crucible?

The therapy process representing a crucible for the family. Signup and view all the answers

What is the battle over structure?

The therapist's establishment of ground rules for therapy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the battle over initiative in therapy?

The therapist waits for the family to take initiative. Signup and view all the answers

How does the family and therapist's view of the problem differ?

Families place blame on individuals while therapists consider social context. Signup and view all the answers

What is affective confrontation?

Confrontation that engages the emotional domain of relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What might a therapist project onto the family?

Their own family system and unresolved issues. Signup and view all the answers

How may families attempt to involve the therapist?

By pulling them into the family system through triangulation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the personal involvement of the therapist?

Their emotional interest can add power to the session. Signup and view all the answers

What is systemic conceptualization of behavior?

Considering biological, intrapsychic, and social dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for a family's struggle with the therapist over attendance?

Battle for structure. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Therapists

Gus Napier and Carl Whitaker serve as the family therapists in the narrative.

Family Dynamics

Family consists of David (Father), Carolyn (Mother), Claudia (oldest child, a teen), Don (middle child, young teen), and Laura (youngest child, around 6 years old).
Don was absent from the first therapy session, walking home from an art lesson.

Therapy Sessions

Therapy sessions require the presence of all family members; therapists refused to start without Don.
Major concerns arise around Claudia potentially running away or attempting suicide.
David and Carolyn have constant arguments, especially related to Claudia’s behavior.

Childhood Perspectives

Laura’s greatest fear is Claudia’s potential suicide, indicating deep family concerns.
Claudia feels betrayed by David, highlighting strained parent-child relationships.
Parents experienced separation prior to Claudia's outburst, although they weren't aware of it.

Stress Types

Acute situational stress refers to adapting to sudden life changes which may contribute to physical illness.
Interpersonal stress involves conflicts between family members expected to cooperate.
Intrapersonal stress is described as internal conflict within an individual.

Conceptual Models

Systems thinking emphasizes the influence of components within a whole.
Family rules form redundant behavior patterns that define acceptable or unacceptable actions.
Triangulation occurs when parents emotionally distance themselves from one another, over-involving their children.

Family Interactions

Claudia is seen as the "expressive agent," conveying repressed family emotions like anger and pain.
Family roles (e.g., caretaker, scapegoat) signify recurrent behaviors fulfilling specific family needs.
Family dance illustrates the complex patterns of interaction during distress.

Family Structures

Homeostasis denotes a family's effort to maintain status quo amidst change.
Family boundaries characterize the family’s openness to external influences with varying permeability.
Family adaptability measures the family's capacity to operate in a structured or chaotic manner.

Therapy Processes

The "Family Crucible" signifies therapy as a transformative process, reshaping problematic interactions.
Battles over structure and initiative occur as the therapist asserts control and waits for family participation, respectively.

Dynamic Relationships

Family problems are often attributed to individual members by the family, whereas therapists view issues in a broader social context.
Emotional confrontation involves disrupting established interaction patterns to promote healthier dynamics.

Therapist Involvement

The therapist’s own experiences may influence their approach and identification with family members, providing emotional depth to sessions.
Families may attempt to draw therapists into their dynamics, creating challenges in maintaining professionalism.

Generational Dynamics

Intergenerational patterns reflect behaviors passed down through family lines, influencing current interactions.
The family's life cycle raises specific tasks and adjustments as members navigate different life stages.

Psychological Concepts

Central life fears stem from early relationships, affecting future interactions.
The repetition compulsion suggests a tendency to recreate past dynamics, seeking different outcomes.

Overall Understanding

The therapeutic goal involves understanding behaviors against social contexts and fostering new family dynamics through informed interventions.

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Description

Explore key concepts and characters from the book 'Family Crucible'. This quiz focuses on important characters like the therapists and family members, as well as vital ideas such as systems thinking and family rules. Perfect for those studying family therapy and dynamics.