Family Systems Theory Flashcards
Why you should make the family of your patients your friends
Triadic relationship Illness' impact on family Family's impact on illness Family as therapeutic ally Family as life enhancing Family can compete or co manage Family decides Doctor is automatically and implicitly a part of the family system
An entity composed of discrete parts which are connected in such a way that a change in one part results in changes in all the parts
System
Criteria for membership in a family
emotional significance
enduring ties
Types of changes in the system
Linear vs Circular thinking
Equilibrium vs. Homeostasis
Type of thinking wherein A affects B who affects C
Linear thinking
Type of thinking wherein changes in A affect several member in the system and the effects propagate
Circular thinking
A balance or stability that the system tries to attain when changes are introduced, the system tries to return to the previous equilibrium or a new equilibrium
Equilibrium
The tendency to resist changes within the system, neutral to whether the change is good or bad for you
Homeostasis
Different “Medical Roles” in the family
Family Physician
Nurse or First assistant
Specialty consultant
Medical board of directors
“Medical Role” in the family wherein the person gives a diagnosis
Family Physician
“Medical Role” in the family wherein the person helps the sick patient
Nurse/First assistant
“Medical Role” in the family wherein the person is approached when others are unsure how to proceed
Specialty consultant
“Medical Role” in the family wherein the person dictates who gets admitted in the family
Medical Board of Directors
Normal Triangulation
Third person as mediator
Harmful triangulation
Detouring of conflict
Symptom carrier
Identified patient
Family hero
The third member of the triangle serves as a means of diverting attention from the real problem
Detouring conflict
A member of the triangle manifests a symptom as a result of a problems in a triangular relationship
Symptom carrier
Prevents the family from breaking up
Family hero
A triangle relationship wherein the relationship alliances are not consistent and change from situation to situation
Karpman’s Drama Triangle
Alliances in families that are formed for the purpose of decision-making
Coalition
Has to do with the emotionality present in the family
Resonance
Connected and emphatic resonance
Enmeshed
Distant relationship with little emotional connection
Disengagement
Types or rules
Overt or Covert
Clear, rigid or diffused
Rules that are explicitly enforced in the family
Overt
Rules that are implicit, unsaid but still expected
Covert
Govern rules between members of the system
Boundaries
Negotiable rules that are discussed between two members
Clear Boundaries
Non-negotiable rules
Rigid boundaries
Boundaries characterized by allowable intrusions, sometimes masquerading as dysfunctions
Diffused boundaries
Relationships where much of the boundaries are diffused
Overinvolved
Behavioral patterns in the family that repeat over time
The behavioral skeleton around which family life is built
Family structures
F. Landa Jocano’s Traditional Filipino Kinship systems General characteristics
1) First duty is to kin
2) Utang na loob
3) Modesty, show less negative feeling in public
4) Dignity and honor
