Family Rituals and Routines  Rituals- Overt and visible behaviors that use highly emotional, symbolic, and extraordinary means to bring about morphostasis (continuity).- Overt and visible; celebratory.- Highly emotional, symbolic, and extraordinary means.  Routines- Repeated, overt behavior that use ordinary means and little emotion to bring about morphostasis (continuity).- Repeated; overt- Ordinary means- Little emotion1. Morphostasis – the process in a system that maintains its given form, organization, or state.2. Morphogenesis – adapting and creating new organizational forms (structure and organization); EX. = growth of an animal from an egg, learning. Where do they come from?- Originated from current family – developmental- Culture, religion, society- Intergenerational transmission Similarities1. Involve more than one family member.2. Visible behavior or action.3. Repetition in form (how) and content (what) of the process.4. Contain elements of morphostasis and morphogenesis (both continuity and change). Differences1. Rituals contain emotion.2. Rituals have symbolism.3. Rituals have more staged or unusual behavior.4. Ritual stages: Preparation, Enactment, and Reintegration – more elaborate and pronounced.  Emotional Grounding of Rituals - Abstract set of ideas – understood yet difficult to verbalize.- Symbolic- Metaphorso A figure of speech or symbol in which a literal idea or concrete object is used in place of another to suggest a likeness between them.o Thanksgiving = metaphor for unity, appreciation- Morphostasis- Morphogenesis Morphostasis and Morphogenesis in Rituals - Continuity and change over time. - Need balance of both for rituals to remain effective.- Traditions – adapt or remain consistent (depend on the goal).- Should include family members to promote shared aspect but not be overdone.- Too much stability results in family strain/rigidity.  Importance of Focus upon Rituals and Routines- Family rituals and routines are valuable resources.- Help families attain crucial tasks when used wisely – (unity, identity, maintenance, closeness, intimacy, meaning, bonding).- Ritual rigidity harbors resentment and inflexibility. How Families Can Use Rituals and Routines - C.A.H.D.R.F.C.- Creating healthy emotional ties- Acknowledging membership changeso Weddings, Births, Deaths, Graduations – contain culturally set rituals.o Divorce and adoption do not have culturally set rituals. - Healingo Relieves the sorrow and pain of conflict, grief, and loss.- Defining and redefining identityo Religious, ethnic, and cultural rituals have important implications for identity creation and change – EX. = 21st, 13th birthdays.- Rites of passage- Finding purpose and meaningo Help deal with the deepest level of shared meaning and values (questions about the origin of life, role of birth and death).o Address the complexities of life – joy and sadness (wedding).- Creating order and predictabilityo Provide structure, rhythmicity, and comfort to daily routines. Three Stages of Rituals1. Preparation2. Enactment3. Reintegration  Creating and Changing Rituals1. Goalso Intended accomplishments to honor, celebrate, and remember.2. Formo Design elements – open/closed, use of space and time, repetition.3. Contento Behavior (letting go, giving and receiving, documentation)o Symbolism (observable actions)o Emotion (how people feel, amount of involvement, level of appropriateness) Managing Rituals- Moderate Ritualizationo Under = mother who lost child and did not allow for grieving.o Over = combining Christmas season cultural rituals.- Distinctiveness of Rituals- Balance in Stability and Change- Inappropriate Use of