The Phychodynamic Perspective: The Systems Family Theory And The Family Systems Theory

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The psychodynamic approach focuses on what is occurring inside an individual’s head to get a better sense of how the client views the world. This theory is based on the interactions of drives and forces within the unconsciousness and personality within a person. According Freud, a person’s behavior is organized to satisfy drives and needs, which behavior is motivated by internal or psychological forces, which can cause an imbalance in the internal forces to motivate behavior. The concept of human nature in the psychodynamic theory is based on two distinct hypotheses, psychic determinism and dynamic unconscious (Henderson, 2016). Psychic determinism centers on the implication that the mental process are determined by the unconscious whereas …show more content…

Within this particular counseling setting, the focus is on the interaction of the family members, and involves interventions that affect the entire family system (Henderson, 2016). The goal of this theory is to change the dysfunctional family patterns through a variety of arrangements, from individuals to group interaction. The Systems theory is organized in units made up of different parts, which is a circular, pattern which A causes B and B causes A (Henderson, 2016). Systems Family Theory viewed human nature in a positive perspective, which people are rational and have the ability to make choices (Henderson, 2016). Furthermore, the Family Systems Theory perceives behavior as directly relating to the individual position within the family. There are eight concepts that Bowen believed centered around the Family Systems Theory, many which reflect family boundaries and interactions. These concepts include, relationships between spouses, differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional system, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process, sibling position, emotional cutoffs, and emotional process in society (Henderson, 2016). Other core concept, determined by other theorist, revolves around centripetal and centrifugal which further describe the relationship styles within the families by looking inward, centripetal, as source of satisfaction; along with, centrifugal, looking outside for satisfaction (Henderson, 2016). In addition, another core concept is family projection process that refers to the transmission that causes symptoms in the child (Henderson, 2016). Many of the concepts described in the Family Systems Theory, are based on the connection, the togetherness, and the conflict that leads to a person holding responsibility within their role within the family.

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