Functionalists employ the idea of the nuclear family being the main universal family in society and most benefitting. The nuclear family functions to meet the pro dominant means of society (sexual reproduction, educational and economic functions). The family allows each member of the family to shine individually and enjoy success. Functionalist Charles Murray also argues other family institutions weaken the production of society’s needs. Divorce is ultimately highlighted as one of the main causes of this creation of new reconstituted families which are presumably less effective in meeting the functional needs of society through the family.…
The functionalists think the role of the family is extremely important and that the nuclear family is the best form, they think the nuclear family runs more smoothly as they learn the correct norms and values so our society can live in a consensus. Families also provide primary socialisation, and functionalists believe this should be done in the correct environment. As all families teach their children the same norms and values this can ensure individuals experience solidarity. Also the family helps organic analogy, as the family aids society in supporting other institutions. Functionalists believe that individuals or families that are no in a consensus are in a state if anomie and are given sanctions for this. The family produces the next set of responsible individuals, workers and parents so they need to ensure that these people fit into the existing society appropriately.…
Structural Family Therapy (SFT) is a method of psychotherapy developed by Salvador Minchin that focuses on the family dynamics. It is considered the most influential family therapy worldwide according to Stupart (2014). The primary purpose of the different approaches to the psychotherapy is to help people feel differently, and change their thinking and behavior (Stupart 2014). The goal of SFT is to join the family system in therapy to determine any dysfunctional relationships and how to heal them while reestablishing the family unity. This is achieved by simply by modifying the way the family interacting with other and by developing appropriate boundaries.…
Functionalists believe that society is based on a shared value consensus; this is a set of shared norms and values into which society socialises its members. This enables society to work harmoniously and able to meet its needs and goals. Functionalists believe that the family is regarded as a basic building block of society. George Murdoch (1949) argues that the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members. These functions are; economic needs, reproduction, primary socialisation and sex. He believes that those needs can only be achieved within a nuclear family. However, some sociologists would argue that these needs can be met in other ways than within the family. For example, other family types such as an extended family or institutions such as the Kibbutz in Israel can be used for primary socialisation and economic security. Other needs such as reproduction and sex can also be met by sperm donors or prostitution.…
Functionalists see the family as providing many important values to society. They believe behaviour is constructed by social forces, the government and the individual is made and controlled by society therefore according to this approach every individual is a product of society. Society essentially makes the person, but not solely. Family and other contributing factors heavily shape a personality along with their actions. Also they believe society is like the human body, that if one aspect is removed such as the family, it will not function properly or at all.…
Using the family structural theory developed by Salvador Minuchin over fifty years ago, he believed that a person’s behaviors are a function of our relations with others. “Matrix of identity” is how we develop ourselves into who we are, as we interact with others (spouse, parents, kids, and extended family members). Family structure refers to family composition, including roles and relationships, how they develop overtime as they accommodate each other. Minuchin’s Family structural theory was created with subsystems that changed all the time as they were adapting to external (job, school, and relocation) and internal (divorce, domestic violence, illness) influences.…
Understanding how a family works and interacts is the key objective of a therapist. In…
Structural family therapy (SFT) is rooted in family systems theory, but it is unique in its focus on family structure and its preference for remaining grounded in the here and now (Vetere, 2001, p. 133). For structural family therapists, family wholeness is the most important goal and individual symptoms are viewed as the result of dysfunctional family transactions (Lappin & Minuchin, 2011). When the family structure is reorganized, the family can interact functionally and harmoniously (M. Reed, personal communication, July 28, 2015). This paper explains the structural theory of family dysfunction, the conditions necessary for change, the primary goals of SFT, the role of the structural family therapist, and the multicultural and gender implications…
This paper will explore Structural Family therapy (SFT) and how it is influenced by Family Systems theory. FST is the underlying paradigm that influenced the SFT founding therapist during the creation of SFT. I will further discuss my personal implementation of the model, interventions utilized with this approach, and overall stance of a therapist. The SFT model is a blueprint that therapist follow, personality and experience will affect how individual therapist present the model. I will lastly address my own personal biases that can influence my implementation, and contextual diversity issues that may require accommodations to be made.…
Outline and evaluate functionalist views of the role of the family in society. (33 Marks)…
The Family Structural Theory provides a method in which a nurse is able to identify how family members interact with one another to establish a baseline. These interactions create patterns of behavior that the nurse is able to focus on when assessing how, why, and under what circumstances family members behave in their assumed roles, how they are organized as a family, what their established boundaries are, and how they are able to adapt when faced with change, illness, or crisis. If these family interactions are failing to yield positive outcomes, the nurse can use the Family Structural Theory to facilitate improvement in family functioning (Minuchin, & Fishman, 2004).…
Another idea of success that Happy and Biff embodied from Willy was materialism, the urge to claim as many material things as they can. During Happy and Biffs childhood they observed how Willy got in dues and stole many material things just so he could feel successful. It came to the point in which he had his sons steal for him just so he can feel more empowered over things, and since Happy and Biff were growing around that idea they started to embody it. For instance, as happy got older he was just like his dad, had all the material things he wanted, even the women, but still felt empty. And its not until Biff asks Happy why he's not content with his life since he has all the material things he wanted, and Happy responds to Biff by saying " it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, plenty of women, and still, goddamnit, I’m lonely. (Act 1)". In other words, this shows how even though he had all the material things he ever wanted, he still didn’t feel happy and successful, because he wanted more.…
Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family? Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family?Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about…
Topic: In this paper I will research the topic of single-parenting. There are an array of topics that fall into single-parent households that could be researched, such as behavioral problems in the children, female-headed households, mental illness and suicidal thoughts in the children, neglect, and race in single-parent families. I decided to focus my research on the adversities single-parent families face compared to dual family households, as well as single-mother and single-father comparisons and the effects of each. I chose this subject because it is relevant, and sometimes a factor in many of the other concerns mentioned involving single-parenting. Although…
The job of parenting can be a gratifying experience, but it can also be overwhelming at times. When a child is birthed, the notion of feeding, clothing, and providing for them is a fundamental awareness. Although the basics of child rearing are common knowledge, rarely are parents told the techniques for raising a productive child. Decades ago, it was routine that the father worked while the mother stayed home to care for the children and the household. In this era, there are some extenuating circumstances where parents cannot totally commit to monitoring their children. They may be forced into single parenting, they may be required to work more than one job, or they may have too many children which would render them unable to properly supervise the child that needs the most supervision. On some occasions, these unsupervised adolescents may turn to substance use for various reasons. Some adolescents abuse substances (dependent variable) because of the type of supervision that was provided by their parents (independent variable). In this case, the question by which this research is…