Family Rituals and Routines Rituals Routines 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 Repeated overt behavior that use ordinary means and little emotion to bring about morphostasis continuity Repeated overt Ordinary means Little emotion 1 Morphostasis 2 Morphogenesis EX growth of an animal from an egg learning the process in a system that maintains its given form organization or state adapting and creating new organizational forms structure and organization Where do they come from Originated from current family developmental Culture religion society Intergenerational transmission Similarities Involve more than one family member 1 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 Differences 1 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 Metaphors o 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 Creating healthy emotional ties Acknowledging membership changes C A H D R F C o Weddings Births Deaths Graduations contain culturally set rituals o Divorce and adoption do not have culturally set rituals Healing o Relieves the sorrow and pain of conflict grief and loss Defining and redefining identity o Religious ethnic and cultural rituals have important implications for identity creation and change EX 21st 13th birthdays Rites of passage Finding purpose and meaning o 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 predictability o Provide structure rhythmicity and comfort to daily routines Three Stages of Rituals 1 Preparation 2 Enactment 3 Reintegration 1 Goals 2 Form Creating and Changing Rituals o Intended accomplishments to honor celebrate and remember 3 Content o Design elements open closed use of space and time repetition o 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 Ritualization o 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 Rituals