THEORETICAL CONCEPTS FAD 3271 EXAM 1 What Is A Theory Theories have building blocks Bricks Concepts Mortar 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 ideas Concept Word or phrase that stands for something e g family mother role environment Variable A concept that varies in kind or amount Varies in kind e g male or female Varies in amount e g happiness low to high Proposition Statement about relationship between variables How the amount or kind of 1 variable influences another variable e g The amount you study influences your grades Theory Set of interrelated concepts propositions which represent a view of a phenomenon by specifying relationships among variables Conceptual Framework Essential concepts employed basic assumptions A network of ideas to study some phenomena No formal propositions Model Visual representation of concepts relationships General Systems Theory A system is an organized collection of interrelated elements characterized by a boundary and at least one functional unit Basic Concepts Central Features organization wholeness relationships Systems can be Concrete Abstract Concrete abstract Large or small Macrosystems large define organize the institutional life of the society Microsystems small consist of situations involving face to face contact Family Family interacting group of individuals who are emotionally physically psychically interdependent Family System 2 or more individuals who interact with each other in a patterned way through time Family Systems Theory Structural Characteristics Boundaries abstract dividers between or among systems subsystems Type location degree of ambiguity rigidity Subsystems basic units of the family system Hierarchy systems are organized according to hierarchical levels Process Characteristics 1 Establishment of Boundaries energy devoted to boundary maintenance permeability of boundaries ease or difficulty moving into outside of system closed open random information processing input 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 products feedback 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 deviation accept idea change positive negative feedback feedback helps system to remain unchanged or return to its prior state if not accepted changed negative 2 Establishment of Connectedness Separateness Circumplex Model Cohesion family closeness Enmeshment over identification extreme bonding Disengaged high autonomy low bonding Vertical Attachment Horizontal Attachment Centrifugal Force Centripetal Force Adaptability family changeability Chaotic high adaptability Rigid low adaptability Balance Homeostasis state of balance Equilibrium relative state of balance Dynamic Equilibrium changing state Disequilibrium no balance chaos wide fluctuations 3 Establishment of Congruent Family Images Themes communication family rules 3 kinds procedural rules family routines rituals relational rules bounding rules family secrets Assumptions 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 tasks Ecosystems The reciprocal relationship between organisms and their environment O E Relationship Ecosystem 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 them Organism O or Human Environed Unit HEU Individual Plurality of Individuals who have some feelings of unity share some common resources goals values interests have some sense of common identity Family 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 them Natural Environment NE the environment as formed by nature Space unlimited 3D expanse in which evens occur in which matter energy exist Time continuous duration in which events occur are sequentially related to one another as in past present future Physical atmosphere climate soil water minerals topographical features Biological plants animals including humans microorganisms Human Constructed Environment HCE the environment as altered or created by human beings Sociocultural 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 objects Sociobiological human alterations of plant animal including human species microorganisms Human Behavioral Environment HBE the environment of socialized human beings their behaviors Psychological includes thoughts emotions of individuals Biophysical includes the biophysical presence of persons their bodily movements physical posture Sociobiological includes interacting persons groups social relationships of short or long term duration 3 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 boundaries Interaction 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 unit between the environments between components within an environment between the environed unit the environments 5 Levels of Systemic Environments Bronfenbrenner 1 Microsystem developmental context nearest the individual representing interactions in which people are directly involved family school friends church community neighborhood 2 Mesosystem contains elements in microsystem but focuses on interactions between them how do they affect they family 3
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