Theoretical Context of Family Therapy

Question 1

family

Answer 1

those persons who are biologically and/or psychologically related, are connected by historical, emotional, or economic bonds, and perceive themselves as a part of a household

Question 2

system

Answer 2

1. those persons who are biologically and/or psychologically related, are connected by historical, emotional, or economic bonds, and perceive themselves as a part of a household

Question 3

Ludwig von Bertalanffy

Answer 3

biologist who sought to explain how organisms thrive/die in accordance with their openness or closeness to their environment, fought reductionism in biology

Question 4

4 system principles

Answer 4

a. whole is greater than sum of parts
b. compilation of subsystems arranged in hierarchical structure
c. adapt self-stabilizing mechanisms to maintain homeostasis and equilibrium
d. capacity to adapt/change in response to environment

Question 5

systems theory

Answer 5

focuses on interconnectedness of elements w/in all living organisms

Question 6

organism

Answer 6

form of life composed of mutually dependent parts and processes standing in mutual interaction

Question 7

cybernetics

Answer 7

Norbert Weiner, describes systems that regulate themselves through means of feedback loops

Question 8

homeostasis

Answer 8

state of equilibrium inside system maintained through cybernetics

Question 9

circular causality

Answer 9

human behavior is complex and always occurs within a system of relationships, a causal chain where each is influenced and in turn influences the other

Question 10

feedback

Answer 10

communication process w/in a system that either keep behaviors in check or promote change

Question 11

attenuating feedback loop

Answer 11

loop that promotes a return to equilibrium

Question 12

amplifying feedback loop

Answer 12

loop that leads to change in the system

Question 13

development

Answer 13

predictable physical, mental, and social changes over life that occur in relationship to the environment

Question 14

individual time

Answer 14

span of life between birth and death

Question 15

social time

Answer 15

landmark social events like marriage, parenthood, and retirement

Question 16

historical time

Answer 16

era in which people live, culture

Question 17

life cycle

Answer 17

denotes continuous development of people over time in multiple contexts

Question 18

stages

Answer 18

sequential development in lifespan

Question 19

developmental crises

Answer 19

times of turmoil and opportunity throughout life; how a person handles and adjusts to events like aging and marriage give clues to his stage of development

Question 20

Erikson

Answer 20

Psychosocial Developmental Stages
1-trust vs. mistrust
2-autonomy vs. shame
3-initiative vs. guilt
4-industry vs. inferiority
5-identity vs. role confusion
6-intimacy vs. isolation
7-generativity vs. stagnation
8-integrity vs. despair

Question 21

family life cycle

Answer 21

developmental trends within the family over time

Question 22

nuclear family life cycle

Answer 22

1. single young adults leave home
2. new couple
3. families w/ young children
4. families w/ adolescents
5. families launching children & moving on
6. families in later life

Question 23

solid self

Answer 23

developing a sense of one’s own beliefs and convictions that are not simply an adaptation of others’

Question 24

cohabitation

Answer 24

prelude to marriage or “trial marriage” vs. long-term alternative to marriage

Question 25

cohabitation effect

Answer 25

lower marital quality, more negative communication, less dedication, and higher rates of divorce after marriage

Question 26

idealization

Answer 26

early stages of marriage wherein people idealize each other and relate accordingly

Question 27

sandwich generation

Answer 27

psychological & physical squeeze of a couple caring for both adolescent child/ren and aging parent/s

Question 28

planful competence

Answer 28

adolescents develop a reasonable realistic understanding of their own intellectual abilities, social skills, and personal emotional responses in relationships with others

Question 29

empty nest

Answer 29

children leave home, and leave parents w/out child-rearing responsibilities (can lead either to rediscovery & fun or to vulnerability to issues including sadness for those heavily invested in child-rearing)

Question 30

boomerang children

Answer 30

grown children’s failure to leave home or choice to return home as a result of financial problems, unemployment, or inability/reluctance to grow up

Question 31

senescence

Answer 31

physical decline of an individual related to age

Question 32

4 phases of chronic illness

Answer 32

1. crisis-deal w/ immediate symptoms, pain, trauma 2. stabilization-stabilize and restructure life patterns & perceptions 3. resolution-develop new sense of self and seek personally meaningful philosophy of life and spirituality consistent with it 4. integration-find appropriate employment if able to work, to reintegrate or form supportive networks of friends and family, integrating one’s illness w/in spiritual/philosophical framework