Family Therapy Theories & Concepts

Question 1

Characteristics of this parenting style include:

-strict rules
-punishment for failing to follow rules
-no explanation provided for rules

Answer 1

Authoritarian Parenting

Question 2

Characteristics of this parenting style include:

-rules and guidelines
-parents are responsive to children

-reasons for rules are provided

-parent’s are more nurturing and forgiving when children break rules

-consequences rather than punishment

Answer 2

Authoritative Parenting

Question 3

Characteristics of this parenting style include:

-few demands on the children
-parents rarely discipline
parents act more as friends rather than parents

Answer 3

Permissive Parenting

Question 4

Characteristics of this parenting style include:

-very few demands

-low responsiveness and little
communication

-parents fulfill basic needs but are detached

Answer 4

Uninvolved Parenting

Question 5

This theory views the family as a complex system of interconnected and interdependent individuals

Answer 5

Bowen’s Family Systems Theory

Question 6

An approach that aims to strengthen individual and family life through a family perspective; the practice of equipping and empowering family members to develop knowledge and skills to enhance well-being of the family

Answer 6

Family Life Education

Question 7

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

• Maintaining relationships w/ parents, siblings, peers
• Completing education
• Developing the foundations of family life

Answer 7

Stage 1: Family Origin Experiences

Question 8

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

• Differentiating self from family of origin and parents; developing adult-to-adult relationships w/ parents
• Developing intimate peer relationships
• Beginning work, developing work identity, and financial independence

Answer 8

Stage 2: Leaving Home

Question 9

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

• Selecting partners
• Developing a relationships
• Deciding to establish own home with someone

Answer 9

Stage 3: Pre-Marriage

Question 10

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

-Developing a way to live together both practically and emotionally

-Adjusting relationships w/ families of origin and peers to include partner

Answer 10

Stage 4: Childless Couple

Question 11

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

• Realigning family system to make space for children
• Adopting and developing parenting roles
• Realigning relationships w/ families of origin to include parenting and grandparenting roles
• Facilitating children to develop peer relationships

Answer 11

Stage 5: Family with Young Children

Question 12

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

• Adjusting parent-child relationships to allow adolescents more autonomy
• Adjusting family relationships to focus on midlife relationships and career issues
• Taking on responsibility of caring for families of origin

Answer 12

Stage 6: Family with Adolescents

Question 13

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

• Resolving midlife issues
• Negotiating adult-to-adult relationships w/ children
• Adjusting to living as a couple again
• Adjusting to including in-laws and grandchildren with the family circle
• Dealing w/ disabilities and death in the family of origin

Answer 13

Stage 7: Launching Children

Question 14

This stage of the family life cycle consists of:

• Coping w/ physiological decline in self and others
• Adjusting to children taking a more central in family maintenance
• Valuing the wisdom and experience of the elderly
• Dealing w/ the loss of spouse and peers
• Preparing for death, review, and reminiscence

Answer 14

Stage 8: Family Life

Question 15

This family therapy approach is vested in changing the behavior of the family members rather than changing their understanding.

Answer 15

Strategic Family Therapy

Question 16

This family therapy approach stresses the importance of family organization for the functioning of the group; the social worker “joins” the family in effort to restructure it

Answer 16

Structural Family Therapy

Question 17

This technique encourages family members to “pretend” and encourage voluntary control of behavior

Answer 17

Pretend Technique

Question 18

Superficial behavior changes within a system that do not change the structure of the system

Answer 18

First-Order Changes

Question 19

Changes to the systemic interaction pattern so the system is reorganized and functions more effectively

Answer 19

Second-Order Changes

Question 20

The tendency to preserve familiar organization and communication patterns

Answer 20

Family Homeostasis

Question 21

The tendency for family members to share an emotional response

Answer 21

Emotional Fusion