Sample Case Study: Family Systems

Not too long ago, the family was perceived as a method. This perception has turned into an increasingly trendy and significant theoretical framework for not just counselors but in addition family therapy professionals (Atwood, 2001, p. 35). A household system functions as a unit, and each member of the family has a critical and unique role to play within the system. For that reason it is impossible for one affiliate of the device to change without bringing about a ripple impact of change all through your family system.

In absolute contrast to the perception of the system, families have been customarily seen as a number of more or less autonomous agents connected by their membership within the family, thus any given member’s conduct was not fundamentally linked to the conduct of every other family member. This kind of restricted perception of your family has generated the likelihood of parents assuming that, simply because they have two children who behave, for instance , the daughter being terrific, yet the son causing trouble, then there has to be something wrong with the son, considering that they raised them both in much the same (Atwood, 2001, p. 42).

Within the system’s analysis, the last statement gets interpreted quite differently. Every member of a household plays a specified role; the son is allocated his negative role, whilst the daughter uses up her role with equal willpower (Atwood, 2001, p. 43). When one examines this family closely, a few elements could be operating which have established and sustained the device. For instance, the daughter could be a straight-A student, something which makes her get a terrific deal of parental interest for her achievement in school. Conversely, the son realizes that he is incompetent at contesting together with his sister within the academic arena. Consequently, his B-grade average results do not receive any praise; rather that he gets comments like “study harder. ” Soon, the son realizes that he is capable of becoming the center of his parents’ interest by acting out within the school, attaining failing grades while doing felonious behavior. Though the attention that he gets appears to be negative, the son feels satisfied as the full partner within the family system. This is a clear sign of what is ongoing within the Del Sol Family. In the same scenario, there might be possible that the parents often fight as a result of father’s abuse of alcohol (though that he refutes he drinks excessively). As a result, the daughter believes that by getting remarkable grades, she's capable of improving things in the household. Whilst the daughter strives to be perfect, the son continually feels dejected over the pain felt within the family, and is especially distressed when his mother gets hurt. Given that he feels angry, his acting out in school or stepping into trouble with the law draws his parents’ attention, thus less fighting at home. In addition , the son understands that any upturn in his behavior presents his mother and father with the opportunity of concentrating on their particular problems that increase their fighting (p. 78).

In terms of therapy, this family will brand the son as the “identified patient, ” thereby demanding that something is completed regarding his behavior. Nevertheless , in the system’s view, the family will turn out to be the identified patient; therefore , changing the behavior of the son will necessitate a change within the family system. In case his parents understand the intention of his behavior and reconsider their application of praise, then this will be helpful. In this manner, the son is capable of receiving the attention that he requires and never having to turn to acting out or felonious behavior. For that reason the parents have to become knowledgeable that to facilitate change inside their son’s behavior, it is necessary which they take the lead by first adjusting their own conduct. As early in the day stated, any change within the system brings reverberations during the system. As an example, if the parents adjust and thus quicken change in the son, the daughter might have the pressure of sharing an optimistic interest with her brother, considering that this really is something she's got never experienced before. Consequently, this will cause new and extra stresses in the system, and all family unit members have to anticipate and handle these stresses as they emerge.

A primary feature of the system’s analysis of families is the notion of homeostasis, which refers to a kind of inertia that truly works against change within the system (Atwood, 2001, p. 82). In the earliest scenario, the daughter might feel fresh and unfamiliar pressure if her parents and her brother were to improve their relationship. In this case, she actually is capable of unwittingly sabotaging change so as to keep her desirable role within the family system. However , in the second scenario, it is possible for the father to get rid of his denial, acknowledge he has to stop drinking, and carefully contemplate the results of his abusiveness. Despite this sounding as the perfect outcome, the thought of homeostasis is obviously at work. In cases like this, the wife might will have to share the work for running the family as well as her husband, thereby facing an undesired load of power and control.

Similarly, the mother’s skillful exploitation of the moods within the household may no longer be needed, and the son’s diversionary tactics might now invite pressure between mom and dad instead of relieving it as before. Though everyone will endorse the father’s latest behaviors overtly, eventually, life will be more acquainted with the family roles being less confusing if the father decides to drink again. Even though this is hard to believe, it's possible that the homeostatic force is likely to reverse the situation thereby leading to the dad getting back into just how he was before, i. e., drinking and being abusive (Atwood, 2001, p. 83)…