Family Systems Theory
Definitions
• A system is defined as a whole made up of
interactive parts. You can not add these
parts together and get the total system.
The system is more than the sum of it’s
parts.
Family System
• A family system is a social or biological
construction made up of a set of people
related by blood or intention.
• Members interact in reciprocal
relationships, responding to one another in
the content of roles.
How they operate
• Each family type describes the way the family system
operates within each type
• In assessing family types, Olson (1993) uses a
multisystem assessment, which includes looking at
different subsystems within the family, such as the
martial system, parent-child system, and the family
as a whole
• Each family type can very much be thought of as
separate family cultures, in which underlying group
norms, role, behaviors and expectations
• Interaction – the interplay between
members
• Reciprocity – both parties influence each
other as they interact with each other
• Roles – a character or function one plays
Family Communication
• communication is either good or poor
• The types of systems families have reveal
their communication types
• Communication is verbal and nonverbal
• It includes rules within the system
• Wholeness, it is necessary to look at the
family in it’s entirety – not just one or some
parts
• Boundaries- the lines of demarcation that
indicate who is “in or out” of the system
• They are physical or symbolic
• Permeable- able to enter or exit the
system
• Open or closed
“Change vs Stability”
• Family systems are stable in their chaos
and orderly in their disorder
• Families are predictable in general and
unpredictable in detail
Homeostasis
• The tendency of a system to return to a
state of equilibrium
• This is counteracted in the need for
change in a living system
Subsystems
• Smaller units within the larger system that
share the characteristics of the larger
system
• Multiple identities with in the system
Feedback Loops
• the feedback loop as a “path along which information
can be traced from one point in a system, through one or
more other parts of the system or its environment, and
back to the point of origin
• Feedback loops are of two types: positive and negative
• A negative feedback loop has been likened to a
homeostatic system, in which the feedback loop provides
information that returns the system to some preset level
and reduce deviation causes to the system.
• A positive feedback loop tends to promote change
Three main dimensions, family
cohesion, flexibility and communication
• “family cohesion is defined as the emotional
bonding that family members have toward one
another” (Olson, 1993, p. 105)
• “family flexibility is the amount of change in its
leadership, role relationships, and relationship
rules” (Olson, 1993, p. 107)
• “family communication is measured by focusing
on the family as a group with regards to their
listening skills, speaking skills, self-disclosure,
clarity, continuity-tracking, and respect and
regard” (Olson, 1993, p. 108).
Family cohesion has four separate
levels
• Disengaged
• Separated
• Connected
• Enmeshed
Family flexibility has four levels
• Chaotic
• Flexible
• Structured
• Rigid
Rigidly Enmeshed
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•
•
•
•
•
•
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Strictly enforce rules
Negotiations are limited
Rules are unchanging
Roles are clearly defined
Little separation of self
Time together & little private space
Few outside friends
Decisions made by the whole not individual
Chaotically Disengaged
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Little discipline
Limited leadership
Impulsive decision making
Little role clarity
Frequently changing rules
Emotional separateness
Low interaction
Private space
Individual friendships
• http://www.christianmentalhealth.com/doc/
pps/counseling_marital_conflicts.pps#284,
21,Healthy Marital Relationships
• A disengaged relationship often has
extreme, emotional separateness. There is
little involvement between the couple or a
family member and a lot of personal
separateness and independence.
Individuals often do their own thing and
have separate interests.
• A separated relationship has some
emotional separateness but is not as
extreme as the disengaged system. While
time apart is important, there is some time
together and some joint decision-making.
Activities and interests are generally
separate but a few are shared.
• A connected relationship has some
emotional closeness and loyalty in the
relationship. Time together is more
important than time apart. There is an
emphasis on togetherness. While there
are separate friends, there are also friends
and interests shared by a couple or family.
• An enmeshed relationship has an
extreme amount of emotional closeness
and loyalty is demanded. Individuals are
very dependent on each other and
reactive to one another. There is a general
lack of personal separateness and little
privacy is permitted. The energy of the
individuals is mainly focused inside the
marriage or family and there are few
outside individual friends or interests.
• Cohesion focuses on the ability of the couple
and family system to balance separateness
and togetherness. Very high levels of
togetherness (enmeshed) and low levels of
togetherness (disengaged) might be
problematic for a marriage and family. On the
other hand, relationships having moderate
scores (separated and connected) are able to
balance being alone together in a more
functional manner.