Family Systems in Financial Therapy Flashcards
Who developed General Systems Theory and when?
General Systems Theory was developed by Austrian biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy in the 1940s.
What was the primary goal of developing General Systems Theory?
The primary goal was to standardize how research was done across a range of disciplines and to develop a common language based on key laws and principles operating across those fields.
Define a system according to Bertalanffy.
A system is any entity maintained by the mutual interaction of its parts, from atom to cosmos, including mundane examples like telephone and postal systems. A system can be biological, psychological, or sociological, composed of smaller systems, and part of a larger system.
What is a key concept of General Systems Theory regarding the parts of a system?
The key concept is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
What is the focus when working with a system according to systems theory?
The focus should be on interactions and the holistic view of the system, rather than solely on individuals or individual aspects.
What are the two main types of systems according to Bertalanffy?
Open systems and closed systems.
Describe an open system and provide examples.
An open system continuously interacts with its environment through a constant exchange of resources, allowing it to adapt, self-govern, and develop over time. Examples include hospitals, people, families, and governments.
Describe a closed system and provide examples.
A closed system operates in an isolated or insular environment with no exchange with the environment and remains fixed. Examples include machines or rocks, though families can also tend towards becoming closed systems.
Define ‘inputs’ in the context of systems theory.
Inputs are the energy and raw material transformed by a system, such as money, energy, time, or labor.
Define ‘throughput’ in the context of systems theory.
Throughput refers to the processes used by a system to convert inputs into products that the system can utilize, such as planning, decision-making, or physical transformations.
Define ‘outputs’ in the context of systems theory.
Outputs are the resulting products or services that come from the throughput or processing of inputs, which can be technical, human, financial, etc.
Define ‘feedback’ in the context of systems theory.
Feedback is the information developed from data or processing within the system that the system can use to become more effective.
Define ‘boundary’ in the context of systems theory.
A boundary is the line or point at which a system can be separated from the environment or other subsystems.
Define ‘goal’ in the context of systems theory.
A goal is the overall purpose of a system or the desired outcome it wants to achieve.
Define ‘entropy’ in the context of systems theory.
Entropy is the tendency for a system to develop order and efficiency over time through rules, policies, or physical conditioning.
Define ‘negentropy’ in the context of systems theory.
Negentropy is the tendency of a system to lose energy or organization and dissolve into chaos.
Provide an example of a system and its inputs, outputs, and throughputs.
Home Heating System:
* Input: Gas or electricity
* Output: Heat generated
* Throughput: Thermostat monitors temperature and signals the furnace to turn on; heat is generated and distributed.
Provide an example of a feedback mechanism in the home heating system.
If the temperature drops too low, the thermostat turns the heater on. Once the temperature hits the desired range, the thermostat turns the heater off.
Provide an example of a family finance system’s inputs, outputs, and throughputs.
Family Finances:
* Input: Money from employment, gifts, inheritance, etc.
* Output: Goods and services accessed with family money (mortgage, food, etc.)
* Throughput: Money going into accounts, managed through processes like paying bills and managing debt.
Provide examples of feedback in a family finance system.
Bank statements showing balances and comparisons to budgets or spending plans.
Define ‘equifinality’ in the context of systems theory.
Equifinality is the principle that objectives can be achieved with varying inputs and through different means.
Provide an example of equifinality.
A traveler can reach their destination by plane, train, or automobile, using different routes.
Define ‘homeostasis’ in the context of systems theory.
Homeostasis is the self-regulation that keeps systems in a state of dynamic balance. Families strive to maintain this status quo.
What did Bertalanffy recognize about homeostasis and human motivation?
Bertalanffy recognized that individuals are not purely motivated to maintain homeostasis and that human creativity allows for transcending it.
What is an important consideration for financial therapists regarding observation of family systems?
Observation has an effect on the observed, and financial therapists must be careful about their interpretations and avoid imposing their own values on families.
What are some of Bertalanffy’s primary conclusions about systems theory?
- A system is more than the sum of its parts.
- Emphasis on interaction within and among systems versus reductionism.
- Human systems are ecological organisms versus mechanistic.
- Concept of equifinality (paths are many).
- Homeostatic reactivity versus spontaneous activity.
- Importance of ecologically sound beliefs and values.
What is cybernetics?
Cybernetics is the study of systems, whether they are electrical, social, physical, mechanical, biological, or psychological.
Who is considered a key figure in the development of cybernetics?
Norbert Weiner, an MIT mathematician, is considered a key figure in the development of cybernetics.
What is a key concept of cybernetics in understanding family dynamics?
A key concept is the study of feedback mechanisms in self-regulating systems.
Explain the feedback loop in cybernetics.
The feedback loop is the process by which a system gets the information needed to maintain homeostasis. It includes information about the system’s performance relative to its external environment and the relationship of its parts.
What is the difference between positive and negative feedback loops in cybernetics?
The distinction refers to the deviation from the norm, not whether the consequences are beneficial. Positive feedback confirms and reinforces how a system is operating. Negative feedback indicates how far a system is from its status quo and what is needed to reestablish it.
Provide an example of a positive feedback loop.
A couple’s housekeeping efforts where one partner’s cleaning motivates the other to clean further, reinforcing the behavior.
Provide an example of a negative feedback loop.
A rebellious teen’s behavior that deviates from the family’s norms, leading to parental anger and conflict aimed at bringing the teen back to the status quo.
What are family rules?
Family rules govern the range of behavior a family can tolerate or the homeostatic range.
What are some mechanisms families use to enforce rules and maintain homeostasis through negative feedback?
- Guilt
- Symptoms
- Punishment
- Discipline
Who is Gregory Bateson and what is his significance to family systems theory?
Gregory Bateson was a world-renowned anthropologist, theorist, and researcher considered a pioneer of family systems theory. He co-authored a foundational publication, ‘Toward a Theory of Schizophrenia’.
What was Bateson’s perspective on thinking and blame?
Bateson was concerned with linear thinking that assigns a cause and thereby implies blame. He advocated for a more holistic, non-linear view focusing on relationships and patterns.
What is metacommunication?
Metacommunication is communicating about ways of communicating. It can lead to changes in a system’s rules.
Why is focusing on problematic communication important for family therapists?
Focusing on incomplete or inaccurate communication can help the family system in self-correction and potentially lead to a re-examination of family rules when negative feedback is ineffective.
What are the key working concepts of family systems theory?
- Interpersonal context
- Complementarity
- Circular causality
- Triangles/triangulation
- Process versus content
- Family structure
Define ‘interpersonal context’ in family systems theory.
The idea that individuals are products of their context, with the primary influence on behavior being interactions with other family members, including cognitive dimensions and external influences.
Define ‘complementarity’ in family systems theory.
Reciprocity that defines relationships. If one part of the relationship changes, the other part must also change. Therapists can use this to reveal unhealthy patterns.
Define ‘circular causality’ in family systems theory.
In family systems, difficulties are viewed as occurring within a loop of interactions, rather than a linear cause-and-effect. Intervention at any point in the loop can be effective.
Explain the concept of ‘triangles’ in family systems theory (Bowen).
A triangle is a three-person relationship system, considered the smallest stable relationship unit. Two-person systems are unstable under tension and tend to involve a third person. Tension can shift within a triangle.
According to Bowen, what is the function of emotional interdependence in families?
It evolved to promote cohesiveness and cooperation needed for families to protect, shelter, and feed their members. The emotional system is a primary driver in the development of clinical problems.
Explain ‘process versus content’ in communication within family systems theory.
Focus on how people talk (the process) as opposed to what they are saying (the content). Understanding the process is crucial for therapists to help families find their own solutions.
What are subsystems or family structures?
These are the defined and understood structures within a family, such as generations, genders, or functions.
What are interpersonal boundaries in family systems?
Boundaries regulate interactions between family members and can shift over time. Dysfunctional boundaries can range from disengaged (isolated/autonomous) to enmeshed (overly supportive/dependent).
What is the family life cycle?
The growth and change that occurs within a family over time. Developments in one generation can impact all members, and the cycle can vary and involve ‘discontinuous leaps’.
What is the meaning or function of the problem in family systems theory?
The identified patient’s symptoms often have a stabilizing impact on the family, such as parents projecting conflict onto a child to avoid addressing their own issues. Therapists should be cautious to avoid scapegoating.
What is the difference between first-order and second-order change?
First-order change involves simply changing a behavior or acting in a new way. Second-order change involves behavioral, cognitive, affective, and relational changes within the entire system. Therapists aim for second-order change.
What is a system according to Bertalanffy?
Any entity maintained by the mutual interaction of its parts, ranging from atoms to cosmos, including telephone systems, biological entities like people, psychological entities like personalities, and social entities like laws. A system can be composed of smaller systems and also be part of a larger system.
What is the key principle that distinguishes systems thinking from reductionist thinking?
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Systems thinking emphasizes examining the whole situation and interactions rather than analyzing individual components in isolation.
Who developed General Systems Theory and when?
Austrian biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy in the 1940s.
What was Bertalanffy’s goal in developing General Systems Theory?
To standardize research across various disciplines by identifying key laws and principles operating across different fields, creating a common language to make scientific work more accessible across disciplines.
Contrast open and closed systems.
Open systems continuously interact with their environment through exchange of resources, can adapt and develop (examples: families, people, hospitals). Closed systems operate in isolation with no environmental exchange and remain fixed (examples: rocks, machines).
Give three examples of open systems.
- Families
- Hospitals
- Governments
How can families function as both open and closed systems?
Families naturally function as open systems through interaction with their environment, but they can tend toward becoming closed systems when they become isolated or insular in their functioning.
Define ‘input’ in systems theory with an example.
Inputs are energy and raw materials transformed by a system. Examples include money entering a family financial system, gas/electricity entering a heating system, or information entering a communication system.
Define ‘throughput’ in systems theory with an example.
Throughputs are processes used by a system to convert inputs into usable products. Examples include a thermostat monitoring temperature and signaling a furnace, financial planning within a family, or decision-making processes in an organization.
Define ‘output’ in systems theory with an example.
Outputs are the resulting products or services from processing inputs. Examples include heat from a heating system, goods purchased with family money, or services provided by an organization.
Define ‘feedback’ in systems theory with an example.
Feedback is information developed from the system’s processing that can make it more effective. Examples include a thermostat turning off heat when desired temperature is reached, or bank statements showing balances compared to budgets.
What are the four key components of any functioning system?
- Input
- Throughput (processing)
- Output
- Feedback
Define ‘boundary’ in systems theory.
A boundary is the line or point at which a system can be separated from its environment or from other subsystems.
What is ‘entropy’ in systems theory?
The tendency for a system to develop order and efficiency over time through rules, policies, and physical conditioning.
What is ‘negentropy’ in systems theory?
The tendency of a system to lose energy/organization and dissolve into chaos.
How does a family finance system demonstrate both entropy and negentropy?
Entropy: Financial education, budgeting, working with financial professionals
Negentropy: Overspending, debt, poor decision-making, conflict, lack of communication
Analyze a family financial system using systems theory components.
Input: Money from jobs, gifts, inheritance
Throughput: Money management processes, budgeting, bill paying
Output: Goods/services purchased, investments made
Feedback: Account statements, budget reviews
Boundaries: Who controls finances, who has access to accounts
Goals: Security, wealth building, lifestyle support
How would a heating system be analyzed using systems components?
Input: Gas or electricity
Throughput: Thermostat monitoring and furnace activation
Output: Heat generated
Feedback: Thermostat turns off when temperature reaches desired level
Boundaries: Home insulation, connection to external power sources
Goal: Maintain comfort of the home
What is ‘equifinality’ in systems theory?
The principle that objectives can be achieved with varying inputs and through different means. Different paths can lead to the same destination or goal.
Give an example of equifinality in family finances.
Different families can achieve financial security through various paths: one might focus on high income and aggressive investing, another on frugality and conservative saving, another through entrepreneurship or inherited wealth - all potentially reaching similar financial outcomes.
What is ‘homeostasis’ in systems theory?
The self-regulation that keeps systems in a state of dynamic balance. Living systems work to sustain their organization, increasing security by maintaining a ‘normal’ baseline of functioning.
How does homeostasis apply to families?
Families strive to maintain their status quo or ‘normal’ functioning. When something disrupts the family (like a new behavior in a member), the system may resist change to restore its previous state, even if that state was dysfunctional.
What is cybernetics and who developed it?
Cybernetics is the study of feedback mechanisms in self-regulating systems, developed by MIT mathematician Norbert Weiner in 1948.
What are the two types of feedback loops in cybernetics?
- Positive feedback - confirms and reinforces how a system operates
- Negative feedback - indicates deviation from status quo and what’s needed to reestablish it
How is negative feedback in systems theory different from negative feedback in everyday language?
In systems theory, negative feedback is not inherently ‘bad’ - it simply indicates deviation from the norm and provides information needed for the system to self-correct. It’s essential for system regulation and structure.
Give an example of a positive feedback loop in a family.
A couple’s housekeeping efforts: One partner cleans, the other notices and also cleans, reinforcing the behavior in both and continuing the positive cycle.
Give an example of a negative feedback loop in a family.
When a teen dresses differently than family norms, the family responds with criticism or enforcement of rules to bring behavior back in line with family expectations.
Who was Gregory Bateson and what was his contribution to systems theory?
A world-renowned anthropologist, theorist, and researcher considered a pioneer of family systems theory. He co-authored ‘Toward a Theory of Schizophrenia’ and emphasized non-dualistic, non-linear thinking, focusing on relationships and patterns.
What was Bateson’s perspective on linear thinking and blame?
Bateson was concerned that linear thinking assigns a cause, thereby implying blame. He advocated for focusing on relationships, forms, and patterns when working with human systems rather than finding fault.
What is ‘metacommunication’ according to Bateson?
Communicating about ways of communicating - a process that can lead to change in a system’s rules. It helps family members understand how they communicate with each other.
What are the key working concepts of family systems theory?
- Interpersonal context
- Complementarity
- Circular causality
- Triangles/triangulation
- Process versus content
- Family structure
What is ‘interpersonal context’ in family systems?
The idea that individuals are products of their context, with their primary influence being interactions with other family members, including cognitive dimensions like expectations and assumptions, and external influences like school, work, community.
What is ‘complementarity’ in family systems?
The reciprocity that defines relationships - if one person changes, the other must also change. All conflicts have two sides, and seeing both enables moving past blame toward responsibility.
What is ‘circular causality’ in family systems?
The view that difficulties exist within a loop of interactions rather than in linear cause-effect relationships. Intervention at any point in this loop can be effective, and you don’t need to know where the problem started to address it.
Diagram a simple example of circular causality in a family.
Parents’ conflict → Child acts out to distract from parental fighting → Parents focus on child’s behavior instead of their own conflict → Temporary reduction in parental conflict → Child learns acting out reduces parental fighting → Cycle continues
What are triangles in Bowen’s Family Systems Theory?
Three-person relationship systems considered the building blocks of larger emotional systems. A two-person system is unstable and tends to involve a third person when under tension. Triangles can contain much more tension without involving others.
Why are triangles considered more stable than dyads (two-person relationships)?
Triangles can contain much more tension because it can shift around three relationships rather than just one. However, triangles create an ‘odd man out’ position that people tend to find uncomfortable.
What happens to triangles under increasing tension?
As tension increases, the pattern changes. In calm periods, two people are close ‘insiders’ and the third is an ‘outsider.’ With moderate tension, one insider may move closer to the outsider, creating a new configuration. At high tension, the outside position may become most desirable to avoid conflict.
How can triangles contribute to clinical problems?
Being pushed to an outside position can trigger depression or illness. Parents intensely focusing on what’s wrong with a child can trigger rebellion. The triangular pattern can maintain dysfunctional behavior that might otherwise change.
Explain ‘process versus content’ in family communication.
Process refers to how people talk (the patterns, style, emotional tone), while content refers to what they are saying (the specific words, topics). Focusing on process rather than content helps therapists understand patterns that prevent families from solving their own problems.
Why should family therapists focus on process rather than content?
“The minute a therapist gets caught up in the details of a family’s problems or thinks about solving them, he/she loses the opportunity to discover the process of what family members are doing that prevents them from working out their own solutions.”
What elements comprise family structure?
- Generation
- Gender
- Function
- Interpersonal boundaries
- Hierarchies
- Subsystems
What is the spectrum of interpersonal boundaries in family systems?
Boundaries range from disengaged (isolated/autonomous, rigid boundaries) to enmeshed (overly supportive/dependent, diffuse boundaries). Healthy families maintain clear but flexible boundaries.
What is the ‘family life cycle’ in systems theory?
The growth and change that occurs within a family over time. Developments in any generation may impact all members, and changes can be erratic or involve ‘discontinuous leaps’ as the family reorganizes.
What is the function of problems in family systems theory?
Problems or symptoms in a family member (like the ‘identified patient’) often have a stabilizing impact on the family system. For example, parents may project their conflicts onto a child to maintain their relationship stability while focusing on the child’s issues.
Contrast first-order change and second-order change in family systems.
First-order change: Simple behavioral change or acting in new ways without changing the system (may not last).
Second-order change: Deeper change involving behavioral, cognitive, affective, and relational changes throughout the entire system.
Why do family therapists aim for second-order change?
Second-order change addresses the underlying system patterns rather than just symptoms, leading to more profound and lasting transformation of the family system.
How does systems theory apply to financial therapy?
It helps financial therapists understand that financial behaviors are not isolated but part of larger family, social, and economic systems. Interventions need to consider how changes in one part of the system affect others, and how feedback loops maintain problematic patterns.
What caution should financial therapists take when observing family systems?
“Observation has an effect on the observed” - therapists need to be careful about their interpretations and avoid imposing their own values on families.
How might a financial therapist use systems thinking when working with a couple’s money conflict?
They would consider: the cycle of interaction around money (circular causality), how each partner’s behavior affects the other (complementarity), whether other family members get involved (triangles), family rules about money, feedback mechanisms that maintain problems, and how changes in financial behavior might affect the whole relationship system.
