FAMILY RULES Rules:- Well-established strategies: recurring patterns of interaction that define the limits of acceptable and appropriate behavior in the family.o Normative rules (based on): Social Norms – Beliefs that prescribe (promote) or proscribe (forbid) the ways that people should or should not behave.o Non-normative rules – Patterns of behavior, repeated regularly, become part of the governing component of the family system; tend to be implicit.How do rules emerge? (I.D.N.T.)o Intergenerational transmission – culturally-impacted.o Derive from family of origino Negotiated by family memberso Through a series of interactions: Trial and Error & Conflict and ResolutionWhat is the purpose of rules? (M.S.B.P.)o Maintain regularityo System accountabilityo Boundary maintenanceo Prevention of chaos – provide structure/order- Scenario One"Jason, come in here this minute!""Gee Mom, keep your shirt on, no need to yell.""I have told you a million times that when you get something out it is your responsibility to put it away. Why do you leave these messes? Do you think I am your maid that I'll just keep on picking up after you like you are some type of prince?""Sorry Mom, I…""Sorry isn't good enough get in here and clean this mess up!"Family Rule: Underscore individual responsibility.- Scenario Two"Jason, I'm home."There is no reply from the bedroom."Jason, do you know anything about this mess? The ice cream is getting on the floor honey."There is still no reply. She wipes up the mess, and begins to prepare dinner.Family rule: Keep the peace at any cost/minimize conflict.- Scenario Three"Jason, could you come out here for a minute?""Hi Mom, what's up?""I'm not too happy about the ice cream mess. I need to take a shower and relax for a minute. When the kitchen is clean, I'll tackle dinner. Can you take care of it, please?""I am in the middle of a math problem.""Well, I am hungry, but we won't start dinner until the mess is gone."Family rule: Insist on logical consequences.- Rules can be explicit (overt) or implicit (covert).o Explicit (overt) – Rules that are formalized through high visibility.o Implicit (covert) – Rules that are hidden, submerged from view so that the family never questionsthem; not openly stated, yet understood by all; powerful. Rule Sequences- A connected series of rules that govern complex patterns in the behavior of several individuals in a family system.- Operate in a cyclical pattern.- When maladaptive, can be considered "vicious cycles."  Management strategies families can use: ("Trump And Regis Are Millionaires")- Think Sequences- Adaptability- Revise inappropriate rules- Attack disabling rules - Maintain rule implicitness Metarules - "Rules About Rules":- Always contain limits and exceptions.- Operate to modify and qualify family rules.- Define appropriate and inappropriate