FMST 302 Lecture 5: Family Systems Theory

• School: Towson University
• Department: Family and Human Services
• Course: FMST 302
• Professor: Bethany Willis Hepp

Document Summary

Set of thi(cid:374)gs that relate i(cid:374) a (cid:449)ay that (cid:272)reates a (cid:374)e(cid:449) (cid:858)super e(cid:374)tity(cid:859) The family is a social system: boundary-maintained unit. Invisible lines that define membership in a system, distinguish it from environment, impacting flow of information open closed. Interrelated and interdependent parts complete tasks of daily life: change in one part affects all other parts, may include sub-systems smaller units that serve various functions. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts: ex. Cake the flour, eggs, baking soda, vanilla, and sugar are all individual parts of a cake, together they create something completely different and greater. Circular causality guides behavior: behaviors are circular, part of the process of interaction that influences and is influenced by lots of forces, ex. The redundancy principle (repetitive patterns of interaction over time) creates rules critical in defining a family: explicit rules. Difference gender expectations for children: rules are critical: Create boundaries rules define the family.