ACTIVITY

Describe human behavior in the context of family system:

The family systems theory is a theory introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen that
suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather
as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit. Families are systems of
interconnected and interdependent individuals, none of whom can be understood in
isolation from the system.The family provides emotional support to an individual as well
as plays a major role in the formation of one's personality. The quality and nature of the
parental nurturance that the child receives will profoundly influence his future
development. The knowledge of these family factors associated with behaviour
problems may be helpful to identify at risk children.

A family is a system in which each member had a role to play and rules to
respect. Members of the system are expected to respond to each other in a certain way
according to their role, which is determined by relationship agreements. Within the
boundaries of the system, patterns develop as certain family member's behavior is
caused by and causes other family member's behaviors in predictable ways. Maintaining
the same pattern of behaviors within a system may lead to balance in the family system,
but also to dysfunction. For example, if a husband is depressive and cannot pull himself
together, the wife may need to take up more responsibilities to pick up the slack. The
change in roles may maintain the stability in the relationship, but it may also push the
family towards a different equilibrium. This new equilibrium may lead to dysfunction as
the wife may not be able to maintain this overachieving role over a long period of time.

Types of Families:

Nuclear Family
The nuclear family is the traditional type
of family structure. This family type consists of
two parents and children. The nuclear family
was long held in esteem by society as being the
ideal in which to raise children. Children in
nuclear families receive strength and stability
from the two-parent structure and generally
have more opportunities due to the financial
ease of two adults

Strengths of Nuclear Families:

  Financially stable, both parents usually work now
 Children raised in a stable parenting situation
 Consistency
 Emphasis on health and education
 Focus on communication

Weaknesses of Nuclear Families:

 Exclusion of extended family can lead to isolation and stress

 Can struggle with conflict resolution
 Nuclear families can become too child-focused, resulting in self-centered children
and families neglecting other important things

Single Parent Family

The single parent family consists of
one parent raising one or more children on
his own. This family may include a single
mother with her children, a single dad with
his kids, or a single person with their kids.
The single parent family is the biggest
change society has seen in terms of the
changes in family structures. One in four
children is born to a single mother. Single
parent families are generally close and find
ways to work together to solve problems,
such as dividing up household chores. When only one parent is at home, it may be a
struggle to find childcare, as there is only one parent working. This limits income and
opportunities in many cases, although many single parent families have support from
relatives and friends.

Strengths of Single-Parent Families:

 Family members can become very close

 Learn to share household duties
 Children and parents can become very resilient

Weaknesses of Single-Parent Families:

 Families struggle to get by on one income; some are on social assistance

 It can be difficult for parents to work full-time and still afford quality childcare
  Parenting can be inconsistent, especially if kids go back and forth between
parents

Childless Family
While most people think of family as
including children, there are couples
who either cannot or choose not to
have children. The childless family is
sometimes the "forgotten family," as it
does not meet the traditional
standards set by society. Childless
families consist of two partners living
and working together. Many childless
families take on the responsibility of pet ownership or have extensive contact with their
nieces and nephews.

Strengths of Childless Families:

 Typically have more disposable income

 No dependents to take care of
 Have more freedom to travel, go on adventures, pursue different careers or
education
 Couples get to spend more time together

Weaknesses of Childless Families:

 Couples can feel isolated or left out when all their friends/family start having kids
 If you like kids, you can feel like something is missing
 Infertility can force a family to be childless, which can be hard for couples

Step Family
Over half of all marriages end in
divorce, and many of these individuals
choose to get remarried. This creates the
step or blended family which involves two
separate families merging into one new unit.
It consists of a new husband, wife, or spouse
and their children from previous marriages or relationships. Step families are about as
common as the nuclear family, although they tend to have more problems, such as
adjustment periods and discipline issues. Step families need to learn to work together
and also work with their exes to ensure these family units run smoothly.

Strengths of Stepfamilies:

 Children get the benefit of having two parents around

 Children and their new siblings or step-parents can form strong bonds
 Benefit of having two incomes compared to single parent families

Weaknesses of Stepfamilies:

 Adjustment can be difficult for parents and children

 Parents can run into problems trying to discipline each other's kids
 May lack discipline or be inconsistent

Grandparent Family
Many grandparents today
are raising their grandchildren for a
variety of reasons. One in fourteen
children is raised by his grandparents,
and the parents are not present in the
child's life. This could be due to parents'
death, addiction, abandonment or
being unfit parents. Many grandparents
need to go back to work or find additional sources of income to help raise their
grandchildren.

Strengths of Grandparent Families:

 Grandparents and grandchildren form a close bond

 Keeps children from ending up in foster homes or other situations

Weaknesses of Grandparent Families:

 Grandparents may not work or have full-time jobs, may struggle with income
 Depending on their health, it may be difficult for them to keep up with young
children or discipline them as they get older
It can be hard for grandparents to raise their grandchildren. In most cases, they probably
thought they were done raising kids and might not have the health and energy to do so. 

FILIPINO FAMILY VALUES

“Good morals and values start at home and a uniform won’t change that”
- Jamie Sawyer

1. Pagpapahalaga sa Pamilya (Family-oriented)
Filipinos are known for having strong and close family ties. They place high regard
and put importance on their family before anything else. They work all day and do all
they can to feed and provide for their family. In other countries, when a person turned
18, he/she can live away from his/her family. In the Philippines, they value their family
so much that they keep them intact through the years.

2. Respect
One of the precious things Filipinos have is that they are respectful. Young, youth,
people in all ages know how to show respect and courtesy. Some ways to show them
are the use of “Po at Opo”, “Pagmamano” or putting the back of an elder’s hand on your
forehead, and calling our older siblings or elders Ate or Kuya.

3. God-fearing
Though we, Filipinos, belong to different religious groups, we all have God (Supreme
being) in our center. Filipino families sometimes go to church or pray together with their
family.

4. Pakikisama (Helping others)
Filipinos get along with different kinds of people. They can easily adjust to any situation
and are flexible. This trait fosters cooperation, good and helpful deeds. When their
neighbors are in trouble, they will help them in whatever they can. They also do not let
their family members go through hard times alone, instead, they help each other.

5. Hospitality
One of the most popular qualities Filipinos have is that they are very hospitable. When
there are visitors at home, they will do a lot of preparations for good entertainment and
accommodation so that they will feel at home and enjoy the stay. When there is an
occasion at home, there are a lot of food and you can expect to have take-outs (pabalot)
after.

6. Utang na Loob (Debt of Gratitude)

This trait shows a sense of duty and responsibility. Filipinos know how to repay other
people. When someone helped us, we return the favors with goodness.

7. Love and Happiness

In a Filipino family, our parents usually cook for us, that’s what one of the ways on how
they show their love. Also, through good and bad times, Filipinos always find a way to
smile and be happy. Whatever the problem is, we are always reminded that our family’s
always there to love and support us no matter what.
FILIPINO CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

 Filipinos have been described as friendly, outgoing, sensitive, easily offended, nosy,

garrulous, direct, hospitable, feisty, irreverent, good natured, clever, witty, gregarious,
happy, generous, easy to laugh, gracious, easy to befriend, casual, fun loving, sensitive
and hospitable. ilipinos have a strong sense of family and community They are very
gregarious and like to talk and hang out with family and friends. They love to fool
around, gossip, make jokes and tease one another. Rumors spread quickly. Some say
Filipinos are happy-go-lucky people who are often pessimistic about today but always
optimistic that tomorrow will be better.

The great majority of the Philippine population is bound together by common values
and a common religion. Philippine society is characterized by many positive traits.
Among these are strong religious faith, respect for authority, and high regard for amor
proprio (self-esteem) and smooth interpersonal relationships. Philippine respect for
authority is based on the special honor paid to elder members of the family and, by
extension, to anyone in a position of power. Filipinos are sensitive to attacks on their
own self-esteem and cultivate a sensitivity to the self-esteem of others as well. Anything
that might hurt another's self-esteem is to be avoided or else one risks terminating the
relationship. One who is insensitive to others is said to lack a sense of shame and
embarrassment, the principal sanction against improper behavior. This great concern for
self- esteem helps to maintain harmony in society and within one's particular circle, but
it also can give rise to clannishness and a willingness to sacrifice personal integrity to
remain in the good graces of the group. Strong personal faith enables Filipinos to face
great difficulties and unpredictable risks in the assurance that "God will take care of
things.

Three main traits underlie Filipino values and value-orientation: 1) person-alism, 2)

familialism, and 3) particularism (popularism). These strongly influence Filipino
behaviour and decision making, and are the basis of his personal beliefs, and cultural
traditions and practices. They are the basis for acceptable behaviour. 

Personalism is the emphasis Filipinos give to interpersonal relations or face-to-face

encounters. Successful leadership or being a good manager necessitates a personal
touch, and problem-solving is effective if handled through good personal relations. ^^
 Familialism emphasises the welfare and interest of the family over those of the
community. The family is the basis of group action and almost all community activity
centers on the family. The family, and not the individual, decides on important matters,
and these are decided on the basis of family, not individual interest. The family honour,
and not that of the individual, is at stake when a family member makes a mistake. ^^
 Particularism results from the strong family influence on individual and group
behaviour. Individuals strive to promote their own and their family’s interests over
community interests. Being popular among peer groups is highly desirable, hence
Filipinos make special efforts to entertain friends and relatives. Knowing how to
entertain people (marunong umasikaso ng kapwa) is important. Conformity to proper
codes of conduct reaps the rewards of cooperation and assistance; non-conformity is
punished by withdrawal of support.