...Bowen Family Systems Theory I have quite a large family. My nuclear family consists of my mom, dad, brother and myself. My mom’s side of the family equates for that majority of our family. My mother is the youngest of nine! As one could guess, I have many aunts and many cousins. Because there are so many people of all different ages there are many patterns of interaction and diversity issues that affect the family dynamics. The nature of my parent’s relationship is extremely loving, affectionate and kind. My parents were strict in many aspects but lenient in other aspects. Luckily my nuclear family and extended family have not had to face issues with substance abuse, violence or disabilities. However we did have to face two major losses in the family, both of my grandmothers. When thinking about interaction patterns, family rituals and celebrations come to mind. Our celebrations particularly Christmas and birthdays were rituals, which bring us together. Christmas is important because my family is Catholic, so this connects us all in a special way. When it comes to diversity issues, issues arise between the young individuals and the older individuals pertaining to beliefs. Even though most of the family is Catholic, everyone is unique and has their own personal beliefs that sometimes can be cause for arguments. This can affect family dynamics. Overall, though there is a mutual respect for everyone. Bowen’s approach has eight major concepts. One of them, Triangles/...
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...The foundation of Family Systems theory are these eight components. The differentiation of self, the triangle, the nuclear family emotional process, the family projection process, the multi-generational transmission process, sibling position, the emotional cutoff, and the emotional processes in society. The differentiation of self is a concept on a continuum from 0 to 100 with 100 being complete self differentiation. The concept is simply being able to differentiate between one’s emotions and one’s thoughts. Someone with high levels of self differentiation are able to make more rationale decisions under considerable amounts of stress while someone on the opposite end of the spectrum may react more impulsive. Multi-generational transmission...
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...Lori, I enjoyed your post. I had not considered mindfulness as an intervention for child abuse survivors, however, I can understand the benefits based on your post and related articles. Per Gladding (2015), many child abuse survivors will need more than one modality as if affects a child’s emotions, cognitions, or physical abuse. Additionally, Solution focused therapy (SFT) is suggested due to the extremist nature of focusing on solutions for problem behaviors (Oliver and Charles, 2015). SFT is a strengths-based approach, it is fueled by the client acting and solving the present problem (Oliver and Charles, 2015). Conversely, Bowen family systems theory (BFST) is another intervention to use with child abuse survivors because it focuses on...
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...Head Office 30 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089 Ph: 02 9904 5600 Fax: 02 9904 5611 Coming to grips with family systems theory in a collaborative, learning environment. info@thefsi.com.au http://www.thefsi.com.au Bowen Family Systems Theory and Practice: Illustration and Critique By Jenny Brown This paper will give an overview of Murray Bowen’s theory of family systems. It will describe the model’s development and outline its core clinical components. The practice of therapy will be described as well as recent developments within the model. Some key criticisms will be raised, followed by a case example which highlights the therapeutic focus of Bowen’s approach. This is the author’s version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Australian Academic Press for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT) Vol.20 No.2 1999 pp 94-103). Introduction Murray Bowen's family systems theory (shortened to 'Bowen theory' from 1974) was one of the first comprehensive theories of family systems functioning (Bowen, 1966, 1978, Kerr and Bowen, 1988). While it has received sporadic attention in Australia and New Zealand, it continues to be a central influence in the practice of family therapy in North America. It is possible that some local family therapists have been influenced by many of Bowen's ideas without the connection being articulated. For example, the writing of Guerin...
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...SYSTEMS THEORY Summary RSP 1 SYSTEMS THEORY Three Distinct but Closely Interrelated Theoretical Legacies Information theory: focuses on the reduction of uncertainty which is achieved by the acquisition of information . Cybernetics: a science of communication concerned with the transmission and control of information; it examines the communication and manipulation of information in various systems . General Systems Theory (GST): interested in systems in general; family systems theory is an extension of this branch . Definitions and Terms Three Uses/Definitions: General Systems Theory (GST) is used to explain the behavior of a variety of complex, organized systems. GST is also a process of theory construction which focuses on building universal concepts, postulates, and principles. GST, as a worldview, emphasizes interrelationships between objects. Terms Isomorphism: Refers to equivalence of form: there is a one-to-one correspondence between elements and relationships. Cybernetic system: systems with feedback. Core Assumptions of General Systems Theory GST Has Potential for Unifying Science: suggests that there are unifying principles in every discipline; GST is a way to consider isomorphism between them. A System Must Be Understood as a Whole Von Bertalanffy: promoted the notion that a family, or any system, is greater than the some of it's parts. Lewin: the whole is different from the sum of it's parts. Human Systems are Self-Reflexive...
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...ongoing social systems with structures, processes and functionality, can be compared to family systems using a systemic and holistic perspective in order to provide professionals with a better understanding and more effective intervention. They discuss many of the motivations that individuals have to join gangs such as looking for closeness, cohesion, and acceptability as well as obtaining a sense of esteem, stability and connectedness that they are unable to obtain from other systems. After describing the demographics and different types of street gangs, Ruble and Turner (2000), apply the “same concepts that are used to describe family systems, such as hierarchies, subsystems and suprasystems, entropy and negentropy, boundaries, communication, and homeostatsis (Broderick, 1990; Minuchin, 1974; Walsh, 1982), to street gangs. They conclude that because gangs function based on an interrelatedness that connects every aspect of gang life together within a complex web of interactions, researchers and professional who seek to provide effective intervention programs must aim to approach street gangs from a holistic and systematic perspective. Points of Agreement with Systems Theory Ruble and Turner are consistent in their theoretical application of the concepts found in family systems theory. For example, the family systems concept of hierarchies is explored. In families, parents are in the executive position of leadership and make decisions that will affect all family members while...
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...working with the family for a period of six weeks, the relationship between the mother (Mrs J) and the other three children (HD, HD, HD) it would appear that a systems based approach maybe most appropriate. The family unit (to include the father – Mr D) can be seen as a system, and to gain an insight into the working pieces of the system, I must try and understand the dynamics and how the individuals interacts with it. Systems theory is based principally on the basis that no individual is isolated. The family interactions, (to include professional interventions) represent a system (or web) around the individuals. In the family environment, the decision taken by one of the family member (i.e. the Mrs J or Mr D) can directly affect the options available for the other members. It is also important to acknowledge that the family are also reliant upon other exosystems (such as Children Services, health and education) to influence and support the children within it (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). The internal and external system can be complex and overlapping, “systems theory concentrates on the relationship between the parts rather than parts in isolation” (Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2004, p.18). Why use systems theory? Within this particular case it would be easy to focus upon the individuals within it and neglect the external influences assisting them. However such a stance would only have a partial success as the internal issues within the family are manipulated by...
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...information to help them? By using systems theory and ecological theory, one can understand the lives of the characters in The Other Wes Moore. Concepts from these two theories will be discussed an explained. Systems is a broader term. A system is a formal or informal grouping of people or facets of organizations. An example from The Other Wes Moore would be the private school Wes goes to when he moves to the Bronx. In addition to systems, there are also subsystems. A subsystem is a smaller part of a system, that helps contribute to the system as a whole. Using the example of the Wes Moore family as a system, the subsystem would then be the mother,...
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...Mississippi Delta face many obstacles in everyday life and strive to become better citizens. Client System Andra Smith is a 23 years old, African American. He is the youngest of 5 children raised in a single parent home in rural Mississippi. His father was never around to guide him into becoming a man and his other siblings did not complete high school either. The value system is living and surviving from day to day. The mother is a cook at the local restaurant and makes just a little more than minimum wage. She is a functioning alcoholic and I believe that this disease runs in the family. The Smith family never really attended church services other than funerals or weddings. They reside in the white project and this is low income housing. The overall physical health of the family is pretty good, no high blood pressure or diabetes. They do not have a regular physician but, no complaints of health problems. The family members have no diagnosis of any mental problems at this time. The first human behavior theory I chose was family systems theory because this family is dysfunctional in their relationships with each other. It examines the constructs of individuation, differentiation, and identity formation from the individual development and family system theory perspectives, focusing on the role of the individuation process in identity formation and the role of the family system's level of differentiation as a mediator of both these processes. Individuation...
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...Social Environment Paper April J Apodaca BSHS/325 June 20, 2016 Foundations of Human Development in the social Environment The bio-psycho-social development of humans is made up of three dimensions: biological, psychological and the social development. All three of these processes are essential for humans to develop. Biological, psychological and social development systems interact together as if in synchrony to create a person’s identity, behavior and personality. In human services, understanding the human development and how it affects an entity or an individual is significant. Even though two people are born to the same family, they will each have a different future. However, on the same note if a child that has parents who are addicts will be predisposed to an addiction even though this person is adopted to an outside family. It is critical to take all of these factors into consideration when viewing the person as a whole. Bio-Psycho-Social People’s genetics (biology), mental health and character (psychology) and social environment all contribute to the health or illness of a person. The biologic portion is contributed from the mother and the father of the individual, such as hormones, hereditary diseases, or infections. The psychological contributes self-control, negative and or positive thinking. The social would be, in the neighborhood a child is raised or the employment he or she has. All three of these together make up the entire entity of...
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...Running Head: Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment 1 Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment Loreen Pettola BSHS/325 October 7, 2013 Maria Perrota MA, Med, Doctorial Candidate Foundations of Human Development in Social Environment 2 Human diversity is the difference among people and how those differences make an effect on society. These differences can include biological, social, and cultural differences. Diversity and Cultural Competence Two recent events have made the need for “cultural competence”— understanding the specific cultural, language, social and economic nuances of particular people and families—more important than ever. One is the civil rights movement that began in the 1950s, in which African Americans, women, gays and lesbians, people with disabilities, and other minority groups alerted the country to their distinct identities and long histories of oppression. The other is the growing number of new immigrants to this country, who bring with them unique cultural, language, religious, and political backgrounds. Histories of internal displacement within their own countries, torture, political oppression, and extreme poverty abound among immigrant communities. Melding these backgrounds with the history, experiences, and expectations of U.S. born ethnic and diverse populations creates both challenges and opportunities for social workers. It is fair to say that both helping professionals and society at...
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...Introduction Many business starts on heritage and what receipts that are passed down from generations. Drexler Bar-B-Queue is one of these establishments. The restaurant was first established in the late 1940s in Houston Texas Third ward district. The family continued the tradition after the original owner passed way. The third generation took over in 1982 with James Drexler and Eunice Scott, his mother. Eventually Drexler Bar-B-Queue out grew the location and started from the ground up. The eventually closed their doors for 6 months and reopened with a larger facility and increasing the business by double. It has always been a family affair to all preparation and management of the restaurant. Clyde Drexler, a very popular basketball player, has been also involved in the business operations after his retirement from the NBA. Drexler’s has been a very important factor in the community in Houston. They have sponsored numerous children athletics and continue to do so. What role do values play in how the Drexler’s restaurant interfaces with its neighbors and customers? The Drexler Bar-B-Que business has been built on family values since the beginning in the late 1940s. The day to day operations also show the how they care about the patronage of their business. The owners will continue asking their daily customers about their food and if they are happy with quality of the food. Most restaurants do not do this action. However, Eunice Scott and James Drexler...
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...issues (EPA, 2011). Birth rate is the constraint for population growth. An increase (exponentially) in the population’s resources like food, water, and better crop conditions promotes exponential growth. “Exponential growth is positive feedback” (Botkin & Keller, 2009, Ch. 3.2) because contributing factors like high birth rate and good health conditions of the population have a J shape whereas the logistic growth curve is S shaped. The logistic growth curve has many determinants like disease, death, and unhealthy conditions in the environment. Also birth rate may not slow down or decrease just because the population does. Developing countries are still adapting to alternative family-planning methods and technological advances. For instance, families of various religious backgrounds and families who make their living as farmers have different beliefs (Global Change, 2006). The human population in these countries could increase rapidly from traditional customs until they are more educated. The...
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...bio-psycho-social dimensions of human development. These dimensions are biological, psychological and social factors. The building blocks of biology is in the genetic and hereditary make up of an individual. These hereditary genes can be found in the deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. The social aspect of human behavior can be developed by the culture of the individual’s family or community. Some of the aspects of behavior a person has cannot be controlled by the individual and must be recognized to understand behavior. Some aspects of behavior are not categorized in this model. An example of this is moral or ethical behavior. The diversity of the human population, such as people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, can be understood using the strength perspective. This tool can help a person to understand the other person’s ability to communicate with verbal and nonverbal gestures. It recognizes the diversity of these populations and their resources. As a human service worker develops, they can become proficient in the cross culture communication. This assists in communicating with different families, groups, individuals, or communities. To be proficient in communicating with ethnically diverse populations some key skills of listening and observing are required. This includes learning about the client’s beliefs, traditions, and cultures. Learning about the client’s cultural beliefs and traditions creates a cultural competence. This includes a list of skills...
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...services. Having the knowledge and understanding of the bio-psycho-social dimensions that make up human development, cultural competency and diversity, and how the general systems theory and social order relate to one another will give us the tools necessary to be able to effectively help our future clients. The bio-psycho-social dimensions of human development consist of three parts that try to give explanation to human behavior: biological, psychological, and social. The biological approach states that behavior can be explained through genetics. The psychological approach states that human behavior can be explained through cognitive development. Finally, the social approach states that we can understand human behavior by looking at the influences of culture and family on an individual. All three dimensions relate to one another and if just one dimension is off or not right there will be a domino effect, causing the other dimensions to follow suit and be off as well. For example, take a child that is living in a home with a step parent. Losing a parent and then being expected to cope with a step family will most likely cause psychological damage because certain psychological needs may not be getting met. The child could develop depression, sleep disorders, and even drug abuse. The effects of being in a step family can also be shown biologically. Certain individuals have greater temperaments and may depict their...
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