FAD 32711-09-14I. Chapter One: Systems, Families, and TheoriesA. What is a System?1.Set of interconnected parts that form a complex whole2.Continuous interchange within the system and between systems and between environmentsB. System Features1.Organization2.Relationships3.Wholenessa. The whole is greater than the sum of its partsC. Elements of a System1.Objects2.Attributes3.Relationships 4.EnvironmentD. The Family as a System1.Objects: members of familya. Momb. Dadc. Child2.Attributes: description of familya. Sizeb. Closenessc. Similarities among membersd. Demographicse. Physical characteristicsf. Roles and rules within family3.Relationshipsa. Among family members1. Daughter’s relationship with brother compared to her relationship with momb. With neighborsc. With school system4.Environmenta. Homeb. Communityc. CountryE. What is a Family?1.Definitions of familya. Many definitionsb. “A group of individuals who share a theme and goals, a commitment over time, and resources, including a living space” (Paolucci, 1976) pg. 38 of textbook2.Nuclear familya. Parents and kids3.Extended familya. Other people within family4.Family of Origina. Family born into5.Family of Procreationa. Family created6.Household a. Who lives together, occupy same space7.Fictive Kina. People who are not related by blood, marriage, or adoption but considered familyb. Nonrelatives with strong intimate bondsF. What is a Theory?1.Way of explaining a phenomenon2.Qualities of a good theorya. Usefulb. Offer meaningful explanationsc. Empirically testable (and supported)d. Internally consistente. Theory->hypothesis->research->theoryG. Why are Theories Important?1.Explains how facts/data fit together2.Explains why things occur3.Interpret phenomena4.Makes predictions5.Directs research and practiceH. Theoretical Perspectives on Family1.Family Ecologya. Ecology1. Branch of science that studies ecological systems/ecosystemsi. Ecosystem: living organisms (O) and their environment(s) (E)ii. Reciprocal relationships between O and Eb. Human Ecology1. Field that studies individuals and families within their environment(s) and the relationship between them2. Combines concepts from systems theory and ecosystem model3. System of people within their environment(s)4. Interrelationships (also called mutual dependency)-relationship(s)/mutual interactions between systems and their environment(s)2.Systems Theory3.Social Exchange Theory4.Symbolic Interactionism TheoryI. Bronfenbrenner’s Model1-14-14J. Environment1.Anything that surrounds and influences all systems in the surrounding area.2.Describe the environment of two goldfish in a glass bowla. Fresh waterb. No vegetationc. Shallowd. Temperaturee. Roundf. Containedg. Small h. Mobile 3.Describe your environmenta. Location->southern USb. Food eaten/not eatenc. Temperatured. Educatione. Technologyf. Timeg. Culture/culture ideash. Peoplei. Statusj. Life choicesk. Job l. Lawsm. Finances4.Human Environment Unita.1. Natural i. Space and timeii. Physicaliii. Biological 2. Human behavioral3. Human constructed5.Organism or Human Environed Unit?a. Individuals who have some feelings of unity, share some common resources, goals, values, and interests, and have some sense of commonidentity1. Family 6.Natural Environmenta. Environment as formed by natureb. Space: unlimited 3 dimensional expanse in which events occur and un which matter and energy existc. Time: continuous duration in which events occur and are sequentially related to one another as in past, present, and futured. Physical: atmosphere, climate, soil, water, minerals, and topographical features (mountains, hills, canyons, etc)e. Biological: bacteria, plants, bugs, animals, people, living organisms that occur naturally7.Human Constructed Environmenta. Environment as altered or created by humansb. Sociocultural: human foundation of cultural patterns (e.g. language, laws, values, and aesthetic standards) and social institution (e.g. Economic, political, religious, familial, health, recreational, and educational)c. Sociophysical: human alterations of natural, physical environment and constructed objectsd. Sociobiological: human alterations of plants, animals, and microorganisms8.Human Behavioral Environmenta. Environment of socialized human beings and their behaviorsb. Psychological: thoughts and emotions of individualsc. Biophysical: biophysical presence of persons, their body movement and physical postured. Social: interacting persons, groups, and social relationshipsK. Interaction1.Occurs when any part of an ecosystem influences or acts on any other part and is influenced upon in return2.Interaction can take place a. Within environmental unitb. Between environmentsc. Between components within an environment1-21-143.Example: Teen Pregnancya. Factors/components1. TV shows (16 & Pregnant)i. Human constructed environment1. Social culturala. Values as a whole of societyb. Influences the sociophysical2. Recessioni. Sociocultural1. Economical component3. General decline in ratesi. Sociocultural1. Economical component4. Timei. Natural environment 5. Maturing fasteri. Natural environment1. Biological componentii. Environmental factors1. Hormones, GMO, pesticides2. Sociobiological 6. Time in history7. Location8. Income9. Education10. HormonesL. Environment 1.Analyzed at either micro or macro levela. Micro1. Similar to the near environment2. Family members and surrounding environmentsb. Macro1. Larger environment of the nation or worldM. Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979)1.“In order to understand human development, one must consider the entire ecological system in which growth occurs.” (Bronfenbrenner 1994, pg. 37)2.Mutual interactions between developing person and changing environments over lifespan3.Modela.b. Microsystem: interactions close to humanc. Mesosystem: linking Microsystems together, interrelations between Microsystemsd. Exosystems: settings that don’t contain developing person but indirectlyaffect theme. Macrosystem: overarching patterns and characteristics of overall culture; customs, traditions, knowledge, laws, rulesf. Chronosystem: refers to time (sociohistorical conditions and time since life events)1. Historical time period2. Family life course3. Generational cohort4. Age N.O. Ex. Teen pregnancy1.Decreased birthrates over time->chronosystem2.Specific state->macrosystem3.Religious->macrosystem4.TV show (16 & Pregnant)->exosystem5.Time in history->chronosystem6.Income->multiple systemsa. Mom’s job->exosystem1. Giving money
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