Family system analysis
The family is the most important group and complex operating unit in society. It carries significant values and has a great personality shaping power, as family members are in constant contact with each other.
The family is a system based on emotional relationships, which determines the foundations of our social and psychological environment.
The family system must follow external and internal changes. This is often not easy, because in this case the relationship of the family members to each other also changes. It happens that the family is unable to follow such changes, in which case dysfunction occurs, which manifests itself in the form of behavioral or physical symptoms. The family system analysis is based on the fact that the individual cannot be separated from his environment, because he is an integral part of it.
High-functioning and dysfunctional patterns of the family
In addition to well-functioning patterns, the family can also pass on inappropriate patterns to its members, which unconsciously influence the members and determine the lives of the family members. Such patterns often have the greatest impact on children and can easily manifest as behavioral or physical symptoms.
Family system analysis and the family tree
During the analysis of the family system, the family tree is also analyzed, with the help of which the exploration of harmful patterns begins.
The client’s current social relationships also serve as a starting point for a better understanding of the situation.
FAQ
What is the family system?
The systemic approach to the family has become widespread in family therapy. The family system is a unit with clearly observable unique characteristics, functioning, and rules. The functioning of the family is influenced by the size and structure of the family, and the role of the members. The family system is self-regulating, governed by its own rules.
The system has two main features:
- homeostasis, maintenance, striving for stability;
- adapting to new circumstances.
The functioning of the family is determined by the relationship between these two functions. Homeostasis of the family system means that each family has its own optimal level of functioning.
What happens if there is a problem in the family system?
If they deviate from optimal functioning due to some problem, through feedback, processes are started in the family that aim to restore the optimal, balanced level of functioning.
Effective family functioning requires flexible, permeable boundaries. A malfunctioning system shuts itself down to protect its fragile internal balance. In order to protect the internal balance, when the balance breaks down, a family member’s illness or behavioral disorder appears (e.g.: an asthma attack in one of the children, when a conflict between the parents would break out, thus preventing it).
How does the functioning of individual family members affect the family system?
Family members are interdependent, their actions affect everyone in the family, they inevitably and mutually influence each other. We call circular causality the phenomenon when, due to the system of interactions, the behavior of each member is both the cause and the consequence of the behavior of the others. In other words, a change affecting one member of the system affects the other members of the system, e.g.: one family member falls ill, a child starts school, or loses a job.
What are the levels of the family system?
The family system has a hierarchical structure, adults not only have extra rights, but also extra responsibilities and duties. The family system is made up of subsystems, the operation of which determines the operation of the entire system. The subsystems are:
Marital relationship/partnership: the stability and emotional climate of the family is determined by the relationship between the parents. A conflictual, tension-laden relationship also causes problems in the operation of other subsystems.
Parent-child relationship: It means the relationship of the mother and father with one or the other child.
Child-child relationship: relationships between siblings
Intergenerational relationship: If several generations live together, relationships with grandparents function as a separate subsystem.
Methods and therapies
Health zone
Interesting facts from the world of mental health and psychology.
