FAD 3271 – EXAM 1THEORETICAL CONCEPTSWhat Is A Theory?Theories have building blocksBricks = ConceptsMortar = Provides the relationships between concepts (propositions)Walls = House has more than 1 wall & a theory has more than 1 proposition- a theory is a house of connected ideasConcept: Word or phrase that stands for something (e.g. family, mother, role, environment)Variable: A concept that varies in kind or amountVaries in kind-- e.g. male or femaleVaries in amount-- e.g. happiness (low to high)Proposition: Statement about relationship between variablesHow the amount or kind of 1 variable influences another variablee.g. The amount you study influences your gradesTheory: Set of interrelated concepts & propositions which represent a view of a phenomenon by specifying relationships among variablesConceptual Framework: Essential concepts employed & basic assumptions. A network of ideas to study some phenomena. (No formal propositions)Model: Visual representation of concepts & relationshipsGeneral Systems TheoryA system is an organized collection of interrelated elements characterized by a boundary and at least one functional unitBasic ConceptsCentral Features: organization, wholeness, & relationshipsSystems can be: ConcreteAbstractConcrete & abstractLarge or smallMacrosystems: (large) define & organize the institutional life of the societyMicrosystems: (small) consist of situations involving face-to-face contactFamilyFamily: interacting group of individuals who are emotionally, physically, & psychically interdependentFamily System: 2 or more individuals who interact with each other in a patterned way through timeFamily Systems TheoryStructural Characteristics Boundaries: abstract dividers between or among systems & subsystemsType, location, degree of ambiguity/rigiditySubsystems: basic units of the family systemHierarchy: systems are organized according to hierarchical levelsProcess Characteristics1. Establishment of Boundaries: energy devoted to boundary maintenancepermeability of boundaries: ease or difficulty moving into & outside of system (closed, open, random)information processinginput: resources that enter the system (matter, information, energy)throughputs: transformation of resources (perceiving, spacing/timing, valuing/goal setting, deciding/managing/controlling, communicating/exchanging, storing/transferring/sustaining)outputs: what system produces quality of life, quality of environment, waste productsfeedback: effects of the actions of the system or one part of a system are “fed back” (or returned) to the system- output is subsequently processed as input- positive feedback: feedback results in change or deviationaccept idea & change = positive- negative feedback: feedback helps system to remain unchanged or return to its prior stateif not accepted/changed = negative2. Establishment of Connectedness & Separateness (Circumplex Model)Cohesion (family closeness)Enmeshment: over-identification/extreme bondingDisengaged: high autonomy/low bondingVertical Attachment/ Horizontal AttachmentCentrifugal Force/ Centripetal ForceAdaptability (family changeability)Chaotic: high adaptabilityRigid: low adaptabilityBalanceHomeostasis: state of balanceEquilibrium: relative state of balanceDynamic Equilibrium: changing stateDisequilibrium: no balance/chaos/wide fluctuations3. Establishment of Congruent Family Images & Themes- communication- family rules (3 kinds)procedural rules (family routines & rituals)relational rulesbounding rules- family secretsAssumptions – families….- have capacity to change & are dynamic- are information processing systems- have boundaries- are relatively open- are holistic (nonsummativity)- are goal oriented- need to perform requisite tasksEcosystems The reciprocal relationship between organisms and their environmentO-E RelationshipEcosystem: system comprised of living organisms interacting their environments (physical, biological, & social)Human Ecosystem: conceptual model that considers individuals & families within their environments & examines the interdependent/reciprocal relationships between themOrganism (O) or Human Environed Unit (HEU)IndividualPlurality of Individuals who have some feelings of unity, share some common resources, goals, values, & interests & have some sense of common identityFamily: bonded unity of interacting & interdependent persons who have common resources & goals & for part of their life cycle, at least, may share living space within their environments and examines the interdependent/reciprocal relationships between themNatural Environment (NE): the environment as formed by natureSpace: unlimited 3D expanse in which evens occur & in which matter & energy existTime: continuous duration in which events occur & are sequentially related to one another as in past, present, & futurePhysical: atmosphere, climate, soil, water, minerals & topographical featuresBiological: plants, animals (including humans) & microorganismsHuman-Constructed Environment (HCE): the environment as altered or created by human beingsSociocultural: human formation of cultural patterns (technology, language, laws, values,& aesthetic standards) and of social institutions (economic, political, religious, familial, health, recreational & educational)Sociophysical: human alterations of natural, physical, environment, & constructed objectsSociobiological: human alterations of plant & animal (including human) species & microorganismsHuman-Behavioral Environment (HBE): the environment of socialized human beings & their behaviorsPsychological: includes thoughts & emotions of individualsBiophysical: includes the biophysical presence of persons, their bodily movements, & physical postureSociobiological: includes interacting persons, groups, & social relationships of short or long-term duration3 Other Environmental Elements- Regulatory Systems (religious, educational, medical, economic, political, legal)- Worldwide Natural Resources & Energy Supplies Cosmos (whole universe/outer space/beyond boundaries of earth)our world has no boundariesInteraction O-E- interaction occurs when any part of an ecosystem influences or acts on any other part & is influences upon in return- interaction can take place…within the environed unitbetween the environmentsbetween components within an environmentbetween the environed unit & the environments 5 Levels of Systemic Environments (Bronfenbrenner)1.Microsystem: developmental context nearest the individual representing
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