Social Systems Perspective

Question 1

What is a social systems perspective on family context?

Answer 1

• Family seens as a complex set of interacting relationships, influenced by the larger social context
• Primary focus on describing and understanding patterns of interaction in the family
• Social networks; siblings, parent-child, different types of relationship between siblings-parent
• Similar to Ecological System Theory

Question 2

Wholeness

Answer 2

Family is greater than the sum of it parts
- One part in a big context

Question 3

Interdependance

Answer 3

Anything that afefcts one part of the family will affect the other parts
- All connected

Question 4

Patterns and boundries

Answer 4

Distinguish the characteristics of the family, which regulates behaviors and allow members to anticipate each others behavior
- Every family is unique
- Norms
- Communication
- Its not static

Question 5

Reciprocal interaction and feedback

Answer 5

Interactions become intertwined in chains of interactional sequences
- Two way street
- React to each other

Question 6

Adaption

Answer 6

• All members experience constant developmental changes and this influence the family process
• Dynamic process
• Everyone needs to adapt to each other

Question 7

What are the direct influences in the family system?

Answer 7

• A simple view, only two people
• When a childs behaviour influence parents behaviour, which in turn influence how the child react back, and vice versa
  Child act- Parents react - Child react back
  Parent act - Child react - Parent react back
• Positive and negative influences
• Firms but warm parenting
  Cooperative children
• Discipline, harsh
  Child resists, rebellious

Question 8

How can indirect influences influence the family system?

Answer 8

• Indirect influences, or third parties
• Negative or positive influence
  Daughter - Mom , Dad or other siblings
• Interactions between two family members indirectly influence development in the context
• Previous experiences
• Parenting styles
• Spill over effect : use one child as a template, praise/blame other siblings or do things differently

Question 9

Dynamic Interplay - Change and Adaption

Answer 9

• Gives change and adaptation
  Example - motor skills
• Parent play with child
• Change the home environment to be in tune with the childs motor skills
• Different kinds of toys

Changes may promote development of new skills in the child, in turn, call on new adaptive behaviours from parents

Question 10

What is the socialization?

Answer 10

• A process
• Children acquire beliefs, values, skills, attitudes etc
• Help children develop into effective and cintributing members of the group