The Importance Of Family Systems Theory

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A system involves the use of boundaries between subsystems. “The family is a set of norms or working agreements around the ideal ways for setting up and maintaining households. These norms provide stability and a clear set of expectations, however they also mask tensions and contradictions,”(Longres, 1990, pg.201). Boundaries influence the flow of rules and information throughout a family system. Some families have open boundaries that don’t necessarily have restrictions or aren’t as strict as a family who does have closed boundaries. For example a family who has open boundaries can let the kids come and go as they please without punishment. This can affect a family and aid a social worker better understand a system that has open boundaries because it shows there isn’t much structure for kids to follow. For example, at my internship I will speak with parents of children who misbehave in school and their household doesn’t …show more content…

Systems theory as stated before, gives us a better understanding of the behavior that goes on within a family. If a family negatively affects a client, it doesn’t mean the theory doesn’t work. It means the environment is affecting something the family is doing and there are changes that need to be made to create a positive outcome. The example that was used was the concept of goal orientation in a family. If a family doesn’t have a goal, it doesn’t mean the family doesn’t follow this theory, it means the social worker needs to identify what is happening in the subsystem as to why there aren’t positively oriented goals. This theory helps with the development of a person and family by looking into the situation as the social worker to perceive why a client has certain problems or issues because of how they were raised a particular way based on environmental

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