what are psychological family systems Flashcards
what is a family system
when individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another but rather as part of their family
As the family is an emotional unit
what is emneshment
This is where the family memebers are overly involved with each other and spend a lot of time together and impose on others privacy
making assumptions on each others views
what does this cause
individuals identities are lost and an emneshed family identity is formed
what happens to the daughter
struggle to have their own independent and distant identity
the absence of own identity acts as an underlying trigger of anorexia nervosa
Leading to feeling of loss of control and autonomy, especially when mother doesn’t allow independence
what does the daughter do to regain control
She differentiates her identity from everyone else so that her identity is more independent and that she has more control
Thus leading to significant weight loss
what is over protectiveness and how does it lead to anorexia
An increase in family memebers oversly involved i protecting each other from harm and threats
They reinforce family loyalty and there is no room for independence
the mother is seen as self sacrificing to protect family members and uses this as emotional blackmail
what is rigidity and how does it lead to anorexia
When problems arise in an emneshed family they lack flexibility to adapt to the new situation
The mother lacks explorativity and refuses to explore the alternatives
how does conflict avoidance increase the risk of anorexia
n an anorectic family steps are taken to supress conflict from occuring
As a result there is a state of constant unresolved conflict with intense conflicts abandoned before their resolution
As a result a crisis may develop the daughter might refuse to eat , starves herself and the family still refuses to face anything or discuss
strength from research about family studies
manzi et al found that family cohesion was based on supportive family interaction
Furthermore cohesion often lead to positive outcomes for the psychological wellbeing among adolescents whereas enmeshment has an opposite effect
what does this mean
emneshment leads to negative well being , emneshment can lead to anorexia
what is a weakness of the family systems
although family do play a role in anorexia they dont play a role in which the family system theory implies
what is the research that supports this
Kog and v failed to find characteristics predicted by the family system model in families of an individual with anorexia
there is evidence that in families where someone has an eating disorder
there are a diverse group of relationship, the emotional climate and the family interactions.
what does this suggest
This shows that family systems is not a reliable explanation of anorexia
as although some families with an anorexic child will have the same characteristics outline by the theory not all will.
so we cannot generalise
There is inconclusive support from family based therapies
Carr has shown that there is evidence for the role of family in the development of anorexia in adolescent as family focuse therapies is effective
However grange and eisler thought that while the therapies work the changes they implement are not consistent with the factors outline in the family system theory
what does this suggest
it suggests that families do play a role in the development of anorexia but not as the family system model suggest as the intervention put in place doesnt target overprotectiveness or lack of control , emneshment therefore it is innacurate
