A Model For Understanding Family Systems and Dynamics

1. A Model For Understanding Family Systems and Dynamics • Systems theory • Dissipative Systems theory NURN 308 Professional Seminar for RNs

2. Family as Systems Theory (Bertalanffy, 1956)

3. □ Thermodynamically open system □ Operating in disequilibrium □Exchanges energy, matter, and/or increasing disorder (entropy) □ Spontaneous appearance of symmetry breaking, and formation of complex, sometimes chaotic, structures where interactive particles exhibit relationships. Family as Dissipative System Ilya Perogine, 1977, Nobel prize winner

4. Dissipative structure (Ilya Prigogine, Nobel prize,1977) Vortex: representative dissipative structure /system From physics, chemistry, chaos theory

5. Family Roles • Perfect child/hero: role=takes care of; Sense of worth and success from helping others; successful, but ‘imposter syndrome’ • Lost child: role=good child; independent; quiet; loner; control/comfort through food • Scapegoat: role=distraction; • Designated problem child; provides crises. • Mascot: role=fun. • Rarely taken seriously; may be baby of the family

6. Dysfunctional Family Rules • No talk rule: don’t talk, don’t feel, don’t trust • Enmeshment…unclear ‘boundaries’ • Rationalizing • Backlog of emotion • Intellectualizing

7. Historical Therapy Perspectives • <50s, 60s, 70s: Sx belonged to only to individual; thus individual therapy. • Later 70s, 80s: Sx are tactical, i.e. they serve a purpose; intentional • Later 80s and >present: paradigm shift: Sx reside within system; adaptive processes that don’t work (i.e. a component part that doesn’t function); a blockage

8. Visual metaphor for a family system that is not fully functional

9. Recovery • I didn’t cause it • I can’t control it • I can cope

10. Functional Families • Homeostatic balance, flexibility • Adapts to change • Emotional problems function of each member, not just one • Emotional contact maintained

11. Functional Families • Fusion (boundary issues) avoided • Differences encouraged for personal growth • Age appropriate responsibility • Care taking w/rational thought, affect

12. What are advantages to using family models?

13. Today’s Special Recipes: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant • Crab Salad: Take one mother with an attitude of displaced anger over husband disserting family. Throw in a destroyed family whose emotional well-being has been devastated.

14. Today’s Specials • 7 Layer Dysfunctional Salad: Lay a bed of displaced anger and isolation, mix in low self-esteem and co-dependence, spread destructive attitudes and a sprinkle of verbal/physical abusiveness. Just enough for a whole family!

15. Today’s Specials • 3 Mile Island Wings: A physically and emotionally abusive mother, served with Bleu cheese on the side. For the occasional dose of compassion.

16. Today’s Specials • Upside Down Cake: Because nothing ever seems to go right • Elizabeth Taylor Spritzer: One poorly blended daughter, a dash of marriages with a splash of children

17. Other theories • Neugarten: best known for adult development re: events and timing: “on time-off time” concept • Erikson • Bowen • others