Family Theories and Dynamics Notes:

 A theory is not so much an opinion but it is based on “presuppositions” or

assumptions.
 Theory: set of interrelated and interconnected ideas
 Components of a theory: assumptions, concepts and propositions
 When developing a theory you should take the basic building blocks and see
how they fit together- find the patterns
 Functions of theories: help us (explain) increase knowledge and then apply
knowledge
 Explain- offer different explanations for observations, explain observations
of families
 Generate knowledge- focuses our thinking, new perspectives of what we
view
 Predict- helps solve problems and know where/how to intervene
 Accumulation/organization of research, precision, guidance, connectedness,
interpretation, prediction, explanation
 Assumptions- beliefs accepted as givens or self-evident, things we have
accepted as true without being tested. (Ex. Kids need parents for guidance)
 Positive correlation: goes up
 Negative: goes down
 Causal- one thing absolutely causes another thing
 Covariational- two things related to one another but might not cause the
other thing to happen
 Propositions- how the concepts work together/relate to one another
 Concepts- the building blocks or main things in the theory

Purposes of theories
Wallace wheel
Deduction- starting with a general idea and applying it to one specific situation
Induction- starting with something small and generalizing it to all things
3 Parts of a theory
Propositions and correlations
Philosophies of science (paradigm)- beliefs that guide thinking
Theories stem from 3 different paradigms or worldviews
Three:
 Positivism- Dark ages (church had ultimate authority). Positive facts
(absolute and true), objective facts, overlooks subjective that can be
discovered. Logical, cut and dry, the scientific method, laws of science,
predict and control, value free (morals),
 Interpretive- opposite of positivism, considers facts but within the context,
this it includes subjective, “it depends”, not about facts but how we interpret
the facts
 Conflict/Critical- conflict is an important part of a relationship
Philosophies of Science: Three paradigms
TENETS OF POSITIVISM
1.
There are phenomena and processes that operate independently of human
awareness of them.
2.
There are laws that govern at least some of these phenomena and processes.
3.
We can discover these laws through the scientific process.
4.
Knowledge of these laws can help humans to predict and control some of the
phenomena and processes.
5.
This type of prediction and control can help humans better meet their needs and
desires.
TENETS OF INTERPRETIVE
1.
Natural science methods are not always appropriate for gaining insight into human
interaction.
2.
Many human actions cannot be predicted or controlled.
3.
Attempts to manipulate and control others are not ethical.
4.
There is no single reality of life; knowledge is created by individuals living in a
historical era.
5.
Gaining understanding or reflecting on meaning will serve as a catalyst for action.

TENETS OF CONFLICT
1.
In situations of inequality, those groups that control resources are likely to exploit
those that lack resources.
2.
Exploitation may not be conscious calculation by those in control, but rather merely
the pursuits of their own self-interests. In the process they take advantage of those
who lack resources.
3.
Those with resources, and thus the power, can impose their ideas systems on those
without resources (i.e., those without resources have an idea system imposed on
them).
4.
Conflict allows for change, but conflict is not solvable. People that are the haves and
the have nots, people that have power and people that don’t have power. They will
take advantage of it. Competition for scarce recourses, exploitation, haves impose
ideas on the have nots, we can predict what will happen in a have and have not
situation. As long as there are haves and have nots there will always be conflict. You
can manage it, but there will always be conflict there

Reason authenticates revelation.

If ever your reason or revelation that don’t fit you always choose revelation.

Teen dynamics:
 Peers are important, the need to fit in and wear brands
 Puberty
 Hormones
 Sexual development
 Dating
 Selfish/egocentric
 Brain Development
 Finding their identity
 Personal Fable
 Energy Levels

Social Exchange Theory:

 General Principle- humans avoid costly behavior and seek rewards to the end
that their profits are maximized
 Individuals are motivated by self-interest
 Rewards: all things physical, social, and psychological with both material and
non material things
Costs: anything they don’t like. Punishments, and lack of rewards
Profits: ratio of costs to rewards for any decision.
 Rewards-cost=profit
Equity: principle of equity is central to maintain social relationships. You scratch my
back I scratch your back
Rule of distributive justice: rewards to each person should be equal “You should get
out what you put in”. Proportional to the respective cost of each person,

Which component of a theory demonstrated the relationship between the concepts?

Concepts

The more Jan perceived her relationship with bill, the more she sees she can’t get
rewards from other alternate relationships- the more she becomes dependent.

Here’s an example of a family and tell me how this family is seeing comparison lever
and distributive justice and rationality.

Key to essay questions: You must answer all the parts of the question.

Advantages and critiques of the theories

Look at the hand out

Study the stages of the tasks

Reframing: when we redefine a situation for someone it changes the way that they
think about it

Fly in the soup: we can’t see certain things the same way after we put a fly in
someone soup (You’re a dictator, like Hitler)

Two levels of communication:

 Content- the actual words being said
 Process- nonverbal things
Dysfunctional communication systems:
Thought and behaviors

Alliances and Coalitions:

Alliances- work together for their mutual benefit (Ex. I am close to my dad)

Coalition: a group of people who are against another person or another group of
people

Role Clarity- how clearly one understands the exception of a role

Role ambiguity- how confused one is about role expectations
Role strain- difficulty in enacting ones role due to multiple demands and insufficient
resources
Role conflict- possessing multiple roles, each one having different expectations
(causes roles strain)
Role consensus/dissensus- agreement/disagreement on what constitutes
appropriate behavior for a role
Reciprocal roles- the mutual give and take involved in a role, opposite and
complementary to one another

March 1:
Needs exist- structure created- functions of the structure?
Social Survival- families exist so the human species will survive
The structure called “family” evolved to meet the needs of the human species to help
it survive
Therefor this structure of the family exists to provide certain functions

March 3:
All parts are interconnected and affect one another.
Family systems are self-reflective
A system affects its environment and the environment affects the system
Families are dynamic and ever changing
Cybernetics= self- correcting mechanism

Equifinality- equal finishing points, doesn’t matter where you start you can get the
same results
Punctuation- where you punctuate the cycle
First order change- change but the underlying cycle looks the same. Superficial
change
Second order change- lasting change
Morphogenesis- change that starts a new beginning, transformation process that
changes the form or shape of the family system
Challenge the system- small ways that we can poke the system and try to get it to
change

Addiction represents powerful learning and memory

Chocolate absorbed in a third of a second
Structure functionalism- look at the structure or patterns of the family
Role taking role making
Role clarity
Role conflict
Reciprocal roles
First order change- alcohol addiction filled with another addiction, situation where
mom and dad have conflict in marriage and scapegoat a child so they don’t focus on
their problems
Know all concepts
24. A lot of tension= addiction= Answer: Scapegoat, addictive medication (all of the
above)
Homeostasis