COUN 601 EXAM 3 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
What is meant by Family Coalitions? - Answer -In the structural model of Minuchin,
Coalitions are alliances between specific family members against a third member
What is the emphasis of Structural therapists? - Answer -Structuralists pay special
attention to family transactional patterns because these offer clues to the family's
structure, the permeability of the family's boundaries, and the existence of alignments or
coalitions- all of which affect the family's ability to achieve a delicate balance between
stability and change. Structural therapeutic efforts are geared to the present and are
based on the principle of action preceding understanding.
what are characteristics of psychosomatic families? - Answer -Families of children who
manifest severe psychosomatic symptoms are characterized by certain transactional
problems that encourage somatization such as Enmenshment, poorly functioning
subsystems, too diffuse boundaries to allow for individual autonomy. A psychosomatic
family was found to be overprotective, inhibiting the child from developing a sense of
independence, competence, or interest in activities outside the safety of the family. The
psychologically vulnerable child feels responsibility for protecting the family. The
manifestation of symptoms typically occurs when stress overloads the family's already
dysfunctional coping mechanisms, Thus the symptoms are regard as having a
regulation effect on the family system.
What are the interventions according to structural therapists for psychosomatic families?
- Answer -Therapuetic efforts were not only directed at changing the structure of
relationships within the family but also at helping the family develop clearer boundaries,
learn to negotiate for desired changes and deal more directly with hidden, underlying
conflicts.
Boundaries - Answer -An abstract delineation between parts of a system or between
systems, typically defined by implicit or explicit rules regarding who may participate and
in what manner.
Characteristics of enmeshed families - Answer -diffuse boundaries. A family
organization in which boundaries between members are over concerned and
overinvolved in each others' lives, limiting individual autonomy
Characteristics of disengaged families - Answer -rigid boundaries. a family organization
with overly rigid boundaries, in which members are isolated and feel unconnected to
each other, with each functioning separately and autonomously and without involvement
in the day-to-day transactions within the family.
monitoring family dysfunctional sets - Answer -The crux of structural therapy. Using
Boundary Making, the therapist tries to change the distance between the subsystems; in
, Unbalancing, the goal is to change the hierarchical relationships of the members of the
subsystem. Through TRACKING, the therapists adopts symbols of the family's life
gathered from members (themes, values, significant family events) and deliberately
uses them in conversation with the family.
family mapping - Answer -an assessment technique used by structural therapist to
graphically describe a family's overall organizational structure and determine which
subsystem in involved in dysfunctional transactions
mimesis - Answer -a tactic used particularly by structural therapists, who attempt to
copy or mimic a family's communication and behavioral patterns in order to gain
acceptance by the family members
alignments - Answer -clusters of alliances between family members within the overall
family group; affiliations and splits from one another, temporary or permanent, occur in
pursuit of homeostasis.
Focus of strategic therapies - Answer -Offer an active straightforward set of therapists
interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating the presenting set of family problems or
behavioral symptoms. Strategists typically issue a series of directives to the family,
directed at changing those repetitive interactive sequences with in family that lead to
cross- generational conflict. The strategic therapists primary wy of viewing problems is
to attend to the family's SEQUENCE OF INTERACTIOns and it HEIRARCHY of
INTERACtiIONS. Efficiency and technical parsimony are the hallmarks of these models;
all change oriented, brief in duration, and view families in non-pathological terms
Developing a communication paradigm - Answer -All behavior is communication at
some level.
Communication may occur simultaneously at many levels.
Every communication has a content (report) and a relationship (command) aspect.
Relationships are defined by command messages.
Relationships may be described as symmetrical or complementary.
Symmetrical relationships run the risk of becoming competitive.
Complementary communication inevitably involves one person who assumes a superior
position and another who assumes an inferior position.
Each person punctuates a sequence of events in which he or she is engaged in
different ways.
Problems develop and are maintained within the context of redundant interactive
patterns and recursive feedback loops.
semantics - Answer -the clarity of MEANING between what is said and received
syntax - Answer -the pattern as well as manner or style in which information is
transmitted
pragmatics - Answer -the behavioral effects or consequences of communication
What is meant by Family Coalitions? - Answer -In the structural model of Minuchin,
Coalitions are alliances between specific family members against a third member
What is the emphasis of Structural therapists? - Answer -Structuralists pay special
attention to family transactional patterns because these offer clues to the family's
structure, the permeability of the family's boundaries, and the existence of alignments or
coalitions- all of which affect the family's ability to achieve a delicate balance between
stability and change. Structural therapeutic efforts are geared to the present and are
based on the principle of action preceding understanding.
what are characteristics of psychosomatic families? - Answer -Families of children who
manifest severe psychosomatic symptoms are characterized by certain transactional
problems that encourage somatization such as Enmenshment, poorly functioning
subsystems, too diffuse boundaries to allow for individual autonomy. A psychosomatic
family was found to be overprotective, inhibiting the child from developing a sense of
independence, competence, or interest in activities outside the safety of the family. The
psychologically vulnerable child feels responsibility for protecting the family. The
manifestation of symptoms typically occurs when stress overloads the family's already
dysfunctional coping mechanisms, Thus the symptoms are regard as having a
regulation effect on the family system.
What are the interventions according to structural therapists for psychosomatic families?
- Answer -Therapuetic efforts were not only directed at changing the structure of
relationships within the family but also at helping the family develop clearer boundaries,
learn to negotiate for desired changes and deal more directly with hidden, underlying
conflicts.
Boundaries - Answer -An abstract delineation between parts of a system or between
systems, typically defined by implicit or explicit rules regarding who may participate and
in what manner.
Characteristics of enmeshed families - Answer -diffuse boundaries. A family
organization in which boundaries between members are over concerned and
overinvolved in each others' lives, limiting individual autonomy
Characteristics of disengaged families - Answer -rigid boundaries. a family organization
with overly rigid boundaries, in which members are isolated and feel unconnected to
each other, with each functioning separately and autonomously and without involvement
in the day-to-day transactions within the family.
monitoring family dysfunctional sets - Answer -The crux of structural therapy. Using
Boundary Making, the therapist tries to change the distance between the subsystems; in
, Unbalancing, the goal is to change the hierarchical relationships of the members of the
subsystem. Through TRACKING, the therapists adopts symbols of the family's life
gathered from members (themes, values, significant family events) and deliberately
uses them in conversation with the family.
family mapping - Answer -an assessment technique used by structural therapist to
graphically describe a family's overall organizational structure and determine which
subsystem in involved in dysfunctional transactions
mimesis - Answer -a tactic used particularly by structural therapists, who attempt to
copy or mimic a family's communication and behavioral patterns in order to gain
acceptance by the family members
alignments - Answer -clusters of alliances between family members within the overall
family group; affiliations and splits from one another, temporary or permanent, occur in
pursuit of homeostasis.
Focus of strategic therapies - Answer -Offer an active straightforward set of therapists
interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating the presenting set of family problems or
behavioral symptoms. Strategists typically issue a series of directives to the family,
directed at changing those repetitive interactive sequences with in family that lead to
cross- generational conflict. The strategic therapists primary wy of viewing problems is
to attend to the family's SEQUENCE OF INTERACTIOns and it HEIRARCHY of
INTERACtiIONS. Efficiency and technical parsimony are the hallmarks of these models;
all change oriented, brief in duration, and view families in non-pathological terms
Developing a communication paradigm - Answer -All behavior is communication at
some level.
Communication may occur simultaneously at many levels.
Every communication has a content (report) and a relationship (command) aspect.
Relationships are defined by command messages.
Relationships may be described as symmetrical or complementary.
Symmetrical relationships run the risk of becoming competitive.
Complementary communication inevitably involves one person who assumes a superior
position and another who assumes an inferior position.
Each person punctuates a sequence of events in which he or she is engaged in
different ways.
Problems develop and are maintained within the context of redundant interactive
patterns and recursive feedback loops.
semantics - Answer -the clarity of MEANING between what is said and received
syntax - Answer -the pattern as well as manner or style in which information is
transmitted
pragmatics - Answer -the behavioral effects or consequences of communication
