Family Theories Terminology Flashcards
Pretend technique
encourage family members to “pretend” and encourage voluntary control of behavior
First-order changes
superficial behavioral changes within a system that do not change the structure of the system
Second-order changes
changes to the systematic interaction pattern so the system is reorganized and functions better
Family homeostasis
families tend to preserve familiar organization and communication patterns; resistant to change
Relabeling
changing the label attached to a person or problem from negative to positive
Paradoxical directive or instruction
prescribe the symptomatic behavior so a client realizes he or she can control it; uses the strength of the resistance to change in order to move a client toward
goals
Differentiation
The more a client can be an individual while in emotional contact with the family. Allowing a client to think first without being drawn to act by either internal or external emotional pressures.
Emotional fusion
counterpart of differentiation and refers to the tendency for family members to share an emotional response. If a member makes a move toward autonomy, it is experienced as abandonment by other members of the family.
Multigenerational transmission
stresses the connection of current generations to past generations as a natural process.
emotional triangle
the network of relationships among three people. Bowen’s theory states that a relationship can remain stable until anxiety is introduced. However, when anxiety is introduced into the dyad, a third party is recruited into a triangle to reduce the overall anxiety. I
nuclear family
a couple and their dependent children, regarded as a basic social unit.
Societal regression
is manifested by problems such as the depletion of
natural resources
