Family Model Lecture Notes PDF

Lecture 10: Basic theoretical models of human functioning used in clinical psychology part V. Introduction to clinical psychology Anna Gabińska, Ph.D. Lecture overview  Family model  Family systems model  Emphasizes the influence of the family environment on individual’s behavior. ...

Lecture 10: Basic theoretical models of human functioning used in clinical psychology part V. Introduction to clinical psychology Anna Gabińska, Ph.D. Lecture overview  Family model  Family systems model  Emphasizes the influence of the family environment on individual’s behavior.  Family treatment approaches see abnormality as a symptom of unhealthy family dynamics, including communication and/or structural problems.  Family systems theory argues that abnormal functioning within a family leads to abnormal behavior: insane behavior becomes sane in an insane environment  „Human problems are essentially inter-personal not intra- personal, and so their resolution requires an approach to intervention which directly addresses relationships between people” (Carr, 2000)  Family systems model  Family therapy focuses on changing interactions among people so as to alleviate clint’s and family’s presenting problem (APA, 2010).  Family is viewed as a system.  Family system includes the individual members and their relationships and interactions between them.  Interconnectedness - changes and problems that affect one member of the family also affect the rest of the family.  Three family therapy approaches are: Communicational approach (V.Satir) Structural approach (S.Minuchin) Strategic approach (J.Haley)  Main principles of System Theory (Bertalanffy, L. von, 1968)  Living organisms are organized wholes, not just the sum of their separate parts. The emphasis is on the processes that organize their interrelationships.  „The most important thing is the interaction among particles. If we know the interactions, we can predict what happens in the system” Yakir Aharonov (candidate for Noble Prize in physics in 2009)  The idea of circular or reciprocal influence rather than linear causality A B A B Systems – Hierarchy and boundaries (Brown and Christensen, 1999) Supernational systems Societal systems Group systems Organismistic systems Organ systems Cell systems  Main principles and concepts CONCEPTS:  Boundaries  Subsystems  Hierarchy PROCESSES:  Cybernetic principle: Feedback  Communication BOUNDARIES: ◦ The rules defining who participates and how they participate in various operations ◦ Determine the ways of interacting inside the system and with the outside.  May be categorized on the close-open continuum ◦ Close – stability, homeostasis ◦ Open – change, development ◦ Compromise between two opposing tendencies provides controlled change- dynamic homeostasis BOUNDARIES: Range of boundaries:  disengaged (rigid boundaries) _________  clear (normal range) ______  enmeshed (diffuse boundaries) _ _ _ _ _ _  Close systems: disengaged or enmeshed; relationships regulated by force or fear; the person with the power decides; self-worth is secondary to power and performance; change is restricted (also families with secrets such as home violence and alcoholism).  Open systems: clear boundaries – actions represent one’s belief – power is secondary, rules are overt and communication is free, self-worth is primary, there is a choice regarding change, which is considered normal. SUBSYSTEMS:  Predetermined (Couple, Parental, Siblings)  Voluntary (Sport lovers)  Alignments (Alliances) ◦ Close, stable bonds between some family members who create a rigid subsystem on a unhealthy basis. ◦ Represent the joining or opposition of one member of a system to another in carrying out various operations ◦ Mother & children → father ◦ Triangulation: whenever any two persons have problems with each other, they will triangle in a third member as a way of stabilizing their own relationship. The triangles in a family system usually interlock in a way that maintains family homeostasis. HIERARCHY: ◦ Natural hierarchy determined by age and role ◦ Closely related to power: depicts the relative influence of each family member on the outcome of various family activities ◦ Determines who makes decisions in particular matters ◦ Example of hierarchy violation: parental child CYBERNETIC PRINCIPLE: FEEDBACK ◦ Systems regulate themselves by means of feedback loops ◦ Based on the idea of circular causality: every move affects all the parts in the system, including the one that originated the move and the process never stops. View on Psychopathology  Focuses more on how the family system helps to sustain psychopathology versus its cause.  Views psychopathology as maintained by interpersonal dynamics of the family system and caused by the family’s inability to adapt effectively to changes.  Symptoms shown by a family member (IP - identified patient) serve a purpose to maintain the group’s interaction and cohesion.When the family focuses on one member’s difficulties, other anxieties in the system are ignored or reduced. View on Psychopathology Two types of pathological family structures Disengaged - boundaries are so rigid that there is little or no interaction between members. ◦ people are not engaged emotionally and may communicate infrequently Enmeshed - individual boundaries are not respected, leading to a lack of autonomy and identity for individual members. ◦ when family members, or people in relationships, are so close emotionally that it is difficult for them to separate their individual thoughts and feelings, distinct identities are not fully maintained. View on Psychopathology  Family projection process: Family members share an emotional common ground and difficulties with one member, or with a subgroup, are felt by all members. Likewise difficulties in the system’s structure create problems for individuals. An individual person’s concerns may be reflecting problems related to the system as a whole or with any part of the group. Problems are projected onto individuals and onto the system.  Multigenerational transmission process: some patterns of past generations are carried into the next generation’s families through conscious and unconscious processes (time orientation, spending, parental disciplining and teaching of children, values, and behavioral standards). The Communication Approach  Problems in effective communication contribute to family problems and dysfunction  Healthy Communication ◦ open expressing of genuine feelings ◦ the issue is presented clearly, honestly and directly ◦ all parts of the message fit together (congruency) ◦ how we communicate depends on our self-esteem ◦ the person clarifies and defines the message; asks and agrees to receive feedback The Communication Approach (V.Satir) Types of dysfunctional communication:  Placater: „Yes man”, takes blame and apologizes; feels helpless and worthless.  Blamer: „You never do anything right!”, feels lonely and unsuccessful.  Super rational: ultra reasonable, feels vulnerable  Irrevelant: words make no sense, off somewhere else, feels as nobody cares, out of place.  Double bind