The Psychology of Social Systems: Addressing Modern Family Therapy Issues

1. The Psychology of Social Systems:  Addressing Modern Family Therapy Issues Presented By: Abigail Crouse, CMHC & Lilly Landikusic, LMFT

2. Course Overview:

3. 1 ~ Exploring the Psychology of  Social Systems Theory:  Foundational Concepts - A social system is the patterned series of interrelationships existing between individuals, groups, and institutions forming a cohesive whole that is defined by spatial and temporal boundaries, purpose and functioning and influenced by environmental surroundings. -Social Systems Theory is valuable in assessing the influences within and impacts upon a defined system of interrelated and interdependent parts, with the belief that whole as an organic system is greater than the  sum of the parts 

4. The Urie Bronfenbrenner model organizes contexts of development into five levels of external influence. The levels are categorized from the most intimate level to the broadest.

5. Key Concepts of Social Systems Theory in Addressing Modern Family Issues System Dynamics Passive vs Active Homeostasis The structure of the system and its functioning is often more important than in determining behavior than the individual components. Passive systems operate within the unconscious, organizational structures and seek to maintain homeostasis. The impact and illusion of homeostasis in maintaining organizational behavior and system functioning.

6. Key Concepts of Systems Psychology Quantum Systems  System Paradigms Systems Engineering Highly complex and highly interconnected systems with Synergy and Emergent qualities = Modern Families The impact of the perspectives and beliefs of the participating components. An interdisciplinary approach to the design and development of optimal systems that align with highest values.

7. Primary  Systems of Influence Related to Modern Family Issues ~ In-Home Perspective • - Paradigms of Values, Principals, Motivation and Leadership • - History,  Genetics, Patterns and Routines, Cultural Norms • - Quality of the Home Environment and Organization • - Quality of the Holistic Health Systems of the Family • - Holistic Systems of Well Being:  Concrete Needs,  Spiritual, Nutritional, Financial, Housing, Interpersonal/Social, School/Career, Sexual/Sensual, Creative/Artistic, Emotional/Affection, Physical/Recreation, Community, Social Media/Internet 

8. The Profound Influence of Mass Social Systems upon Modern Family Issues - Mass Social Systems may be defined as larger in quantity, location, frequency and/or demonstrating maladaptive or destructive potentials - Maladaptive Social Systems cause mental health issues to elicit change or healthy adaptation response - Negative micro symptoms could have value identifying needs for changing larger maladaptive systems  - Social Systems Epidemics in Modern Families: Increasing rates of Suicide, Depression, Stress/Anxiety, Evolving Addictions, Violence and Lack of Affordable Housing, Healthcare and Resource Systems  -Need for Systems Engineering and Community Psychology 

9. 2 ~  Understanding Modern Family Issues and the Impact of Significant Social Systems • Modern Family Therapy Issues • Changes in Modern Family • Parenting Perceptions

10. Changes in the ”Modern” Family (PewResearch, 2015) • Fertility rates • Decline in household size • Postponement of Family Formation • Greater access to contraceptives • Labor and housing markets • Average age of first childbirth of women just below 30 • Childlessness • Cannot conceive or decide not to have any children

11. “Modern” Families: Household Structure • No longer “one dominant family form” (Clauss-Ehlers, 2017) • Changes in households • 1-2 children • Households with 3 or more children 22% • Partnership Patterns • Sole-parenting and ”reconstituted families” • Steady rise in parents living together but not married • Possible impacts of an instable system • Increased behavioral problems • Consequences in parent and child coping mechanisms

12. ”Modern” Families: Work Life & Family Life • Increased working parents • Joblessness & Poverty • Higher rates for sole-parent families • Impact • Relationship between income, family stress and child development • Financial instability limit children’s access • Lower-income correlated with reported victims of violence

13. ”Modern” Family: Parental Perceptions • Parental identity • Central to identity • Parental identity associated with authoritative parenting skills (Fajukoff, et al., 2016) • View of parenting • Upside • Downside • Parental stress linked to adverse child outcomes (Crum & Moreland, 2017) • Possible increase in abuse over time

14. Modern “Family”: Parental Perceptions • Parental Perceptions • Overall “good” perception • Gender and Generational divides • Perceived self-efficacy linked to parenting skills (Renner, et al., 2015; Zlomke, Bauman, & Lamport, 2015) • Perception of Child’s Success/Failures • Parents • Own strengths and weaknesses • Change in age of child • Parental Engagement • Division among satisfaction in engagement with children

15. “Modern” Family: Parental Skills • Parenting styles • Reinforcement vs. criticism • Parenting behavior vs. Parenting styles • Different methods for discipline • Explaining • Taking away privileges • Timeout • Raising voice or yelling • Spanking • Methods of discipline linked with child behavior (Carvalho, Fernandez, & Relva, 2018; Lasky & Cartwight-Hatton, 2009)

16. Family System: Parental confidence & Efficacy • Focus on changing society effects on • family • *Person-Centered Focus • *Value Focus • - Addressing parental stress • - Discipline and reinforcement structures

17. Empowering Micro-Social Systems to Address Modern Family Therapy Issues • - Identify and Prioritize Changeable, Controllable and/or Teachable Qualities within all systems of influence upon the individual family components • - Identify and Align the Meso-Social Systems  Patterns with Individual's or Family's Highest Values, Principals and Goals: changing the "ows" vs the "whats" • - Identify and Removing Dysfunctional Paradigms or Secondary Gains from Maintaining Maladaptive Systems • - Include assessment of the family members' different styles and processes vs content regarding foundational questions of mental health: happiness, sense of meaning and purpose, connectedness and daily routines • - Realigning Disconnected or Maladaptive Systems and Paradigms within an Individual, Couples, Family or Group System • - Emphasizing Parenting Strategies that Encourage Adaptive/Resilient vs Maladaptive/Disconnected Social System Skill Development

18. Incorporating Family Social Systems Engineering into family therapy through: -  holistic treatment planning that  identifies and targets needs and imbalances within a  family's  systems of health and well-being.

19. Empowering Macro-Social Systems to Address Modern Family Therapy Issues • -Incorporating the Principals of Community Psychology and the impact on complex systems when even one individual changes their system dynamics • -Incorporating Systems Theory and Social Systems Engineering Principals to Address Larger Systems Failures within the Modern Mental Healthcare Industry

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