Lesson 16: Family Systems Theory

Attention

Family continues to be an important socializing agent throughout our lifespan...but families change as well. They go through ups and downs, changes in structure...but all the while we are learning about how to live in the world...the norms, values, and expectations that become part of our everyday lives

Here is a picture of America's First Family
What changes have happened in their family structure?
What are the new values, norms, and expectations now that the family has been thrust into the public eye?

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify how family influences development through multiple relationships and dynamics
  • Identify specific parental styles and behaviors
  • Analyze the occurrence of the Negative Reinforcement Loop (or trap)
  • Debate the merits of a "happy childhood"

Teaching

What are the functions of a family?

By understanding what the purpose of family is we can tell when things are going well and when things are not going well. So, what is a family supposed to do for us? Under what circumstances does it fail?

 

Family System Theory describes the social interactions, norms, and expectations that enable a family to function.

Parenting Styles

One major aspect of the family system is Parenting Styles. Combining the dimensions of "warmth" and "control" we are able to come up with four major parenting styles.

Do different situations demand different parenting styles? When have you encountered EACH of these? If your parenting style is CONSISTENTLY one of these, what are the outcomes?

Parental Behaviors

Another aspect of the family system includes the actual activities of parents in their role as parents.

  • Direct Instruction
  • Modeling
    • Observational Learning and Social Learning Theory
  • Feedback
  • Behavior Management
    • Reinforcement
    • Punishment
    • Negative Reinforcement Loop

Should Someone Stay Home with the Kids?

We have competing values in the US...we want to do well financially and we want to be good parents...sometimes these are not always in line with one another!

These values go all the way down to social policy related to maternity and paternity leave. Check out the link below for information related to everything from maternity leave to the availability of fresh drinking water across the world!

Mapping Children's Chances

Can we actually spoil our kids with Praise?

Read the article from the Atlantic below and watch the video (the video was in the original article but I had to get a separate link for it to post it here). What do you think?

How to land your kids in therapy!

Click HERE to view the imbedded video

Assessment

Lesson 16 Quiz

  1. Tell a story from your own childhood and your experience of parenting. Identify the style of parenting and the specific parental behaviors that were involved (use the terms from the content in the Lesson). How did this incident impact your own development? Your own parenting skills, if any?

Lesson 16 Discussion

Read the article "How to land your kids in therapy" and view the video (both are in the lesson). Debate the merits of this point of view.