Family Identity Three interrelated identity tasks that families must execute:1. Constructing family themes2. Socializing family members with respect to biological and social issues3. Establishing a satisfactory congruence of images within the family, personal identities, roles.- Family Themes - The elements of the family experience that become organizing principles for family life, including both conscious and unconscious elements as well as intellectual and emotional aspects.o Purpose: To provide a framework for meaning, shape identity, define roles.o Family themes come from: Family history, ethnic origins, religious beliefs, emotional issues/choiceo Themes affect subsequent behaviors: Positive or negative; govern future intentions and actions.o Direct the flow of resources: i.e. – Time, energy, and money contributed toward education.o Create an emotional climate: The theme of perfection can result in family members experiencing shame and guilt when this ideal is not achieved.- The selection of particular themes may also represent the family’s strategy for attempting to controlhow others perceive the family (Ex. we are intellectually superior, brave, and serve the needy).- Themes passed down from generations: o Ethnic origin = Italians appreciate food and celebration.o Religious beliefs = humility or respect for authority.o Long standing traditions or values (Kennedy Family – passion for political involvement)o Unresolved past family issues = abandonment, rejection, sacrifice, helplessness. Personal Images and Identity - Evolve within the family system consistent with themes.- Influenced by our perception of how others see us and how we compare ourselves to others. Examples of Identity Strategies- Encourage individual family members to feel good about themselves.- Make yourself feel better at another's expense.- Boys behave in a masterful way and take on challenges.- Girls value social skills and nurture, pride physical attributes/appearance.- Parents attempt to live through their child and control their identity.  Socializing Family Members- Family systems provide important socialization experiences- Performed through on-going interactions- Bi-directional Family Roles- Expectations of each family member. - The most basic types of roles are “father,” “mother,” “aunt,” “daughter,” “son,” “grandmother."- For example, one person may be the “clown” of the family; the “responsible one”; the “emotional one.”  Control- How much a family tries to control the identity of a member varies.- Do family members have the freedom to develop their own identities based on their own strengths and potentials or are they constrained by expectations that require them to develop a particular identity that does not fit with who they really are and all they can achieve?- This is how a dysfunctional role can form in a family.- This is also when parents may try to live vicariously through their children and control their identity to be what they always wanted to be. Personal Identity vs. Roles- Healthy families have different personalities and skills that work together to meet the family task of identity.- Dysfunctional families have one certain script or role for each family member to meet the identity task even if it may not be their entire identity it becomes their label. Dysfunctional Roles1. The Do-er – conducts all maintenance tasks, often taken advantage of, driven by guilt and an overdeveloped sense of responsibility.2. The Enabler – covers for everyone, often meets their needs without being asked, including the self-destructive necessities of other members of the family, peacemaker, avoids conflict at all costs.3. The Loner – meets needs for autonomy by escaping issues.4. The Hero – accepts the responsibility for decreasing tension in the family by excelling in activities that focus the family's attention on the positive; self-esteem.5. The Mascot –companionable and entertaining, creates the illusion of family peace. Provides comic relief, true feelings never get expressed.6. The Scapegoat – assumes the blame for all family dysfunction, black sheep figure. 7. Dad’s Little Princess / Mom’s Little Prince – a little spouse, child becomes a parent because the adult cannot meet their needs in other adult relationships; poor boundaries established. Establishing a Congruence of Identities and Beliefs- Shared views that family members have of one another.- If identity within a family is congruent, it facilitates interaction.- No congruence can lead to fixed roles in a family and each person has needs that go unmet. - Family myths occur if ideals are not congruent with outside views.o Based on expectations and experience.o Influenced by trans-generational memories and stories.o Myths arise when a family holds an image of itself that does not match with that of outsiders: EXAMPLE: A school system's intervention attempts are resisted by the "self-sufficient" family – results in distance between child and school.  Family Ideology- Focuses on cognitive and intellectual aspects of the family system – attitudes, beliefs, values.- The body or group of ideas that exist in a group, society, or social movement. o Level I Ideology Surface level, content discussions in family. Example – family rules; behavioral actions. o Level II Ideology Intermediate levels of abstraction. Metarules, methods of decision-making. Changing patterns of authority. Changing power in a system. Example – belief in the importance of discipline. o Level III Ideology Highly abstract and general Differences and similarities in family members' worldviews, values, long-term goals. Addresses the nature of reality and how to cope. Example – belief that life is a hostile experience.- When families or people who are attempting to assist families focus on Level II processes, it demands fairly sophisticated ways of thinking.- Most people remain at Level I because it is specific and simple to