COUN110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Harry Stack Sullivan, Ernest Burgess, Family Therapy
Family'System'Therapy'
Overview''
• Orgins''
• Key'concepts''
• Differences'between'systemic'and'individual'approaches''
• Structural'family'therapy''
• Therapeutic'Goals''
• Therapeutic'Relationship''
• Assessment''
• Application''
• Strengths/limitations''
''
Overview''
• Family'systems'theory'focuses'on'relationships'
o How'people'relate'to/interact'with'one'another'
• A'collection'of'interactions'is'called'a'system'
• The'system'can'be'a'family'or'a'workgroup'or'a'friendship'group'
• The'focus'is'on'the'system,'rather'than'the'individual''
–'identify'how'system'constructs'the'issue'not'the'individual''
• Family'systems'theory'identifies'that'problems'are'the'result'of'systems'of'interaction,'not'
necessarily'individual'issues'
• Systems'can'be'seen'as'enabling'or'reinforcing'or'creating'problems'
''
Origins''
• Ernest'Burgess'1926''
o Referred'to'the'family'as'‘a'unity'of'interacting'personalities’'-'ideas'that'are'important'
in'regards'to'interaction'with'people''
• Dr.'Murry'Bowen'
o trained'in'traditional'psychoanalytical'approaches'
• Harry'Stack'Sullivan''
o a'psychiatrist'interested'in'the'more'social'aspects'of'psychiatry,'rather'than'simply'the'
internal,'intrapsychic'factors'of'human'existence'associated'with'psychoanalytic'
psychiatry.''
• In'the'1950s'Bowen'introduced'a'transformational'theory,'Family'Systems'Theory''
• Virginia'Satir'-'key'figure'in'family'system'field''
''
Family'Systems'Theory''
• A'family'is'a'natural'living'system'
• Families'are'SYSTEMS'of'interconnected'and'interdependent'individuals.''
• To(understand(the(individual,(we(must(understand(the(family(system(of(that(individual.'
People'cannot'be'understood'in'isolation'from'one'another.'Need'to'understand'that'an'
individual'is'apart'of'a'connection.''
• What'does'it'mean'to'say'a'family'is'a'system''
o A'family'is'greater'than'the'sum'of'its'parts'
o As'members'of'a'family'system'every'member'is'interconnected'
o Think'about'a'mobile.''When'one'piece'moves,'the'whole'mobile'moves.'Movement'of'
one'affect'the'whole'system.'
• Each'part'of'the'system'affects'each'others.'
o EG:'An'alcoholic'family'member'often'destabilizing'family'system.'The'alcoholic’s'
unpredictability,'violence,'contempt,'and'self'focus'distorts'much'of'the'family’s'
interaction.''
• The'whole'family'must'adapt'to'these'behaviors.'They'do'things'such'as'absorbing'the'anger,'
denying'the'effect'of'the'alcoholics'behavior,'avoiding'that'member,'and'even'trying'to'cover'
up'the'issue.''
''
Family'System'Theory:'Basic'Elements''
• The'family'is'a'structure'of'related'parts'or'subsystems.'Each'action'or'change'affects'every'
other'person'in'the'family.''
• The'family'structure'has'elements'that'can(only(be(seen(in(its(interactions.'This'family'system'
is'a'complex'whole'that'cannot'be'understood'by'examining'members'separately.'
• Family(Roles:'Patterns'of'interaction'become'ingrained'habits'that'make'change'difficult.''
• Family(Rules:'Each'family'has'certain'rules'that'are'self-regulating'and'peculiar'to'itself.'The'
family'is'a'purposeful'system;'it'has'a'goal.'Usually'the'goal'is'to'remain'intact'as'a'family.'
• Boundaries:'For'families'to'function'well,'subsystems'must'maintain'boundaries.'What'can'be'
talked'about'with'each'person'and'outer'persons.'(What'you'will'talk'to'mum'about,'what'you'
talk'to'dad'about.'Can'be'different)'
• Adaptation:'Despite'resistance'to'change'each'family'system'constantly'adapts'to'maintain'
itself'in'response'to'its'members'and'environment.''
• Systems'change'through'the'family'life'cycle.''
o Changes'in'family'systems'are'caused'by'both'normative'(predictable'life'cycle'changes)'
and'non-normative'(crisis)'stresses'
• Pathological(communication(causes'relationship'problems'
• Feedback'loops'guide'behaviour'
• Individuals'must'change'so'that'the'family'unit'can'as'well'
o i.e.,'change'must'happen'at'an'individual'level'to'enable'change'to'happen'at'a'systemic'
level''
Assumptions''
• 4'basic'assumptions'when'system'is'not'working:'
1. Chronic'anxiety'
2. Basic'Life'Forces'
3. Emotional'Process'
4. Family'as'an'emotional'unit'
''
8'interlocking'concepts''
1. Differentiation'of'self'
• Our'level'of'differentiation'determines'whether'we'respond'or'react'to'threats'or'
symptoms'–'allowing'everyone'to'be'unique'within'the'system''
• Poor'differentiation'leads'to'emotional'reactivity,'mother'being'worried'about'
relationship'with'own'father.'
2. Triangles'
'
• Normal'natural'predictable'behaviour'–'usually'things'going'well'no'need'for'another'
person'involved.'When'distress'happens'another'person'becomes'invovled.'It'is'an'
unsettled'system'
• 2-person)relationship)when)calm'
• When)anxious),)one)person)will)often)involve)a)third'
• A'triangle)is'a'three'person'relationship.''Someone'is'always'uncomfortable'in'a'triangle'
and'pushing'for'change.''
• Anxiety'is'the'major'influence'on'the'activity'within'a'triangle.'
§ If'high'levels'of'anxiety'more'people'will'be'involved,'creating'interlocking'triangles'
• Prolonged'stressors'in'triangles'contribute'to'clinical'concerns'and'may'result'in'serious'
mental'and'physical'health'problems.'
• Although'Bowen'considers'a'triangle'to'be'more'stable'than'a'dyad,'he'also'mentions'
that'for'people'who'are'undifferentiated'in'the'triangle,'it'tends'to'create'prolonged'
significant'stressors'in'their'relationships'and'in'their'well-being,'since'it'shifts'the'focus'
of'attention'to'something'outside'the'self'that'adds'to'anxiety'and'stress.'
§ For'Example:'substance'abuse.'
3. Nuclear'family'emotional'process'
'
4. Family'projection'process'
• Through'a'family'projection'process,'children'acquire'levels'of'differentiation'and'
distance'regulation'based'on'the'levels'of'their'caregivers'
• Parents'project'immaturity'onto'one'or'more'of'their'children'
Document Summary
Overview: orgins, key concepts, differences between systemic and individual approaches. Family systems theory focuses on relationships: how people relate to/interact with one another, a collection of interactions is called a system. The system can be a family or a workgroup or a friendship group. The focus is on the system, rather than the individual. Identify how system constructs the issue not the individual. Family systems theory identifies that problems are the result of systems of interaction, not necessarily individual issues. Systems can be seen as enabling or reinforcing or creating problems. In the 1950s bowen introduced a transformational theory, family systems theory: virginia satir - key figure in family system field. Family systems theory: a family is a natural living system. Families are systems of interconnected and interdependent individuals: to understand the individual, we must understand the family system of that individual. People cannot be understood in isolation from one another. When one piece moves, the whole mobile moves.
