FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY

DP Sed 101
Child and Adolescent Development
 SYSTEM

 INTERRELATEDNESS

When you move any one piece, all

the other pieces move too! They
do not exist in isolation from one
another, and “movement” in any
one part of the “system” will affect
all the rest of the parts of the
system.
What is Family Systems Theory

 Family systems theory is more than a therapeutic

technique. It is a philosophy that searches for the
causes of behavior, not in the individual alone, but in
the interactions among the members of a group.
The basic rationale is that all parts of the family are
interrelated. Further, the family has properties of its
own that can be known only by looking at the
relationships and interactions among all members.
 Patricia Munichin

- is a Professor Emerita at Temple

University in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania and Codirector of
Family Studies, Inc. Trained as a
developmental psychologist, she
has been interested in bringing a
developmental orientation into
clinical work with families and a
systemic perspective into
psychological research.
Characteristics of the family system:

– External and internal family boundaries

– Family rules
– Family role organization
– Power distribution among family members
(equilibrium)
– The communication process
External and internal family
boundaries

A family has an invisible boundary that

helps to define it as separate and different
from other systems.
 There is a wide range of boundary styles
ranging from open to closed.
 A family has internal boundaries that
define how family members relate to each
other. These are subsystems based on
generation, sex, interests, etc.
Family rules

 Families maintain stability by developing rules

about how to live together.
 Families have rules about everything. Some
rules are explicit and some are not. Some can be
discussed and some cannot.
 Families vary in the kind of rules they have,
whether they can be discussed, how easily they
can be changed, and how they are enforced.
Family role organization

 Role organization varies greatly among

families.
 Ideally, roles within the family are both
clear and flexible.
Power distribution among family
members (equilibrium)

 Families develop characteristic ways to

make decisions and to resolve conflict.
Distribution of power usually shifts over
time with needs of the members. It is
important that there be a reliable,
predictable pattern of power distribution.
The communication process

 Each family works out its ways of

operating through a communication
system. Families have many rules about
communication which can be located on a
scale ranging from open to closed. There
is no one "ideal" type, and different styles
work for different families.
FAMILY SYSTEM

 The family is not just a collection of individuals. It

is a whole larger than the sum of its parts.
 A Delicate Balance
 A change in the family situation means
readjustment of the total system and can pose
problems and challenges for every single
member.
 A Stable But Open System
 Every family is faced with the test of allowing for
growth and change while maintaining the integrity
of the system.
The Four Parenting Styles
According to Patricia Munichin
1. 2.

4. 3.
Authoritarian Parenting

 Children are expected to follow strict rules

established by the parents. Failure to follow
usually results in punishment.
 Authoritarian parents fail to explain the
reasoning behind these rules.

IMPACT:
Children who are obedient and proficient, but rank lower in
happiness, social competence and self-esteem.
Authoritative Parenting

 Establishing rules and guidelines that their

children are expected to follow.
 Parents are responsive to their children and
willing to listen to questions.
 Parents are more nurturing and forgiving
rather than punishing.
IMPACT:
Result in children who are happy, capable and successful.
 Permissive Parenting

 Referred to as “Indulgent Parents,” have very few

demands to make of their children.
 Rarely have discipline because they have relatively
low expectations of maturity and self-control.
 Generally nurturing and communicative with their
children.
IMPACT:
Children rank low in happiness and self-regulation.
Children more likely to experience problems with authority and
tend to perform poorly in school.
 Uninvolved Parenting

 Characterized by few demands, low

responsiveness and little communication.
 Generally detached from their child’s life.

IMPACT:
Rank lowest across all life domains.
These children tend to lack self-control, have low self-esteem
and are less competent than their peers.
ACTIVITY

Given how the current generation has been

greatly influenced by the advancement of
technology, parents are justified to be
authoritarian in their parenting style.
REFERENCES

 www.bluffton.edu/courses/tlc/nathp/.../familysystems.
ppt
 www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200601/ChristianBTJ.pdf
 http://web.pdx.edu/~cbcm/CFS410U/FamilySystems
Theory.pdf
 www.dss.mo.gov/cd/info/cwmanual/section7/ch1_33/
sec7ch1.htm
 www.slideshare.net/Marianne0895/family-system-
model
WORD FOR THOUGHT

“The attitude you have as a parent

is what your kids will learn
from more than what you tell them.
They don't remember what you try to teach them.
They remember what you are.”

- Jim Henson
Reported by:
Edwin Estrera
DPE Feb 5, 2013
Cebu Normal University