Family Therapy History

Question 1

General Systems Theory

Answer 1

Bertalanffy, a biological model of living systems that maintain themselves through input and output

Question 2

Negative feedback loops

Answer 2

are associated with patterns of interaction and communication that keep the family system functioning in its current way, returning to homeostasis, and maintaining it. These patterns attempt to maintain the family system in the way it was. It’s those patterns of interaction that maintain stability or constancy while minimizing change. Negative feedback loops help to maintain homeostasis. (negative because the systems rejects the info and does not change)

Question 3

Positive feedback loops

Answer 3

are patterns of interaction that facilitate change or movement toward either growth or dissolution/escalating troubles (positive because something is added to the system and changes it)

Question 4

Cybernetics

Answer 4

The science of feedback loops that help systems self regulate

Gregory Bateson is the father of it

Question 5

Systems Thinking

Answer 5

The cake that comes out of the oven is more than the eggs, flour, oil, baking soda, and vanilla that make up the parts or elements of the cake. It is how these elements combined to form something larger than the ingredients that makes the cake. Such is true with families as well. It is more than “who makes up a family,” it is how they come together that defines that family.