Respond to two essays 250 words on Family Systems

Family Systems

Kyle Darling #24440868

COUN 502

Liberty University

The family, as a system, made up of individuals interacting and influencing one another, is one of the most important aspects of child development, healthy or unhealthy. The dynamics of environmental factors, socio-economics, parenting styles, and exposure to opportunities all have profound affects on every member of the system. The difference between the functional and dysfunctional family system could be as simple as one of those influences creating conflict and causing one individual within the system to become disconnected resulting in imbalance. Disruption in the homeostasis, or balance, of the family, if unresolved, will result in dysfunction(Hensen, 2104).

A healthy family system is in balance. Conflict can and is normally present, but within the system there are methods already in place to correct or resolve the conflict. Healthy, or unhealthy family systems can exist at every level of education and socio-economic status; however, research has shown that families experiencing lower income and lower levels of education have a greater chance of becoming an unhealthy family system. Distinguishing factors include visible changes in the behavior of individuals including signs and symptoms of physical and mental abuse, substance abuse, delinquency, failure to thrive, and significant increases in conflict between peers (Feldman, 2014).

“Families are the original environment for the vast majority in every culture and remain influential for life. Healthy families provide the foundation for the mental, physical, social, and economic well-being fro each person”(George, 2013). Although many of the theories of development do not agree on the timeline or the different stages, they all agree that a disruption in the environment will likely result in changes in development. During the pre-school years, children face the realities of a world filled with distractions and conflict. Central to their world is the parental influence. Research has shown that strong, positive relationships with a child’s parent is key to their social development with their peers (Feldman, 2014). Parenting techniques dictate behavioral response in their children and set the stage for the development. Depending on the parenting style, children have the potential to develop several characteristics ranging from withdrawn, anti-social and uneasy, to independent, self-assertive and cooperative.

Physical and mental abuse perpetrated by older caregivers is known to have lasting developmental consequences. Child abuse is another issue that knows no socio-economic boundary, taking place in the poorest as well as wealthiest families. Behavioral consequences for the abused children include resistant to control, failure to adapt to new situations, fear of physical contact, lack of self esteem, suffering from developmental delays, and research shows that abused children have a higher propensity to become an abuser of their own children. The obvious conflict that the abuse creates forces a child that does not possess the maturity or the mental tools to cope little choice but to endure. Although children have demonstrated tremendous resiliency to overcome the abusive situation, during these vital developmental stages of the child’s life, he or she will likely face delays or a complete interruption in development (Feldman, 2014).

The family system, whether biological or foster/adoptive, provides the foundations for the development of the children involved within. A healthy system will set boundaries and expectations of behavior and provide acceptable social interactions. Moral and social values are defined, creating a well rounded, independent, and compassionate individual. Although it is true that a healthy system does not guarantee a healthy, well-developed child, the child’s chances are greatly enhanced by it. A family system that is wrought with conflict, abuse, or outright neglect has shown to produce children that do not conform to societal norms and face developmental challenges. The result is likely a disconnection to the familial support structure affecting the child’s spiritual outlook. The child will be less likely to trust those around them resulting in an inability to see themselves as part of something greater than themselves.

References

Feldman, R. S. (2014). Develpoment Across the Life Span (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

George, M. A. (2013). Healthy Families - Introduction. Circumpolar Health Supplements, 72, 531-533.

Hensen, V. (Producer). (2104). Family Systems.