Assess Genogram, Essay Example

The pertinent themes that are illustrated in this interview between the couple are the topic of Tom’s sexual liberation, the lack of communication, and the influence of familial factors in present behaviors. In couples that are similar sexual orientation and sexual preferences are problematic. Research has presented that the difficulties of sex creates complications in marriage. The majority of couples have experienced dissatisfaction with their sex life as their marriage progresses. In each sexual encounters power emotions which are attached to the difficulties surrounding the problems. The themes of shame, feelings of anxiety about being judged is something Tom carries. Susan for example expresses shame in the type of sexual behavior that Tom indulges in as a cross dresser. Tom holds the feelings of resentment to Susan, because she finds his behavior inappropriate, and places the blame on for the deterioration of their marriage. The risk factor consist of their son being the one to be harmed from the problems in their marriage. The son is developing, and as child look to his parents on how he should behave, and more importantly how his sexuality is formed.  However, he could be harmed or confused by seeing Tom’s cross dressing habits.

This is where their strengths lie in focusing on the well-being of their child. While they seem like the do love each other, Tom is having difficulty adjusting his personality because he is confused on where his gender discordant behavior stems from. In Susan’s view, Tom’s behavior is in line as a deviant as they correlate to his gender discordant behavior. There has been much confusion on what exactly creates this behavior, as throughout research, it has been viewed with negative connotation, and though to be involved in social deviancy. Susan and Tom relationship is shrouded with problems that go beyond the objection to Tom’s feminine behavior, but how Susan feels unwarranted, and not desired by Tom.

In examining the Genogram diagram, it reveals familial problems that are usually carried on to other generations. The genogram is formatted that a majority of individuals’ problems stem from early family experiences in which they are socialized to learn their behaviors. In the case of Tom, it seems evident that in throughout his life he had an event in which influenced his behaviors he displays in his marriage with Susan.  Looking at Tom’s history, he was raised in a non-traditional family in which he was regularly bullied and humiliated. Tom has grown up emotionally scarred and conflicted on his love for his parents, although society rejected this family structure. As the only child he saw his mother’s relationship with her partner Linda as a norm, and his father checked out so he didn’t have a male role figure, which could have possibly have influenced his present behavior. While Susan grew up in traditional family structure, that comes from parents that are still married. She moved around a lot as a child, and saw her mother as the homemaker, and her father as the breadwinner being in the military. Her perspective of her father played a major part in forming the male figure that is strong and dominant in the family. Tom’s sexual behavior has become problematic in a way that has not presented a solution to their marital woes.

The genogram will aid in helping to discover where some of the problems or behaviors originate from. The genogram’s strengths are in the producing possible perspectives to Tom and Susan on their current problems. The genogram has the capacity to reveal the pattern and stressful events within immediate generation to show the lack of support that Tom had in developing into a young man. This affected his sexuality and his gender development that has influenced his behaviors to cross dress. The is critical in treatment planning because it helps discuss the lack of social support, and lack of communication between Susan and Tom, while also analyzing how this effects both partners. The weakness however, is that the couple and the family will probably have a long road ahead in discussing all their problems that could be rooted in their family structure.

References

McGoldrick, Monica, Gerson, Randy, Petry, Sueli. (2008). Genograms Assessment and Intervention. W.W. Norton & Company: New York.

Muchnick, Dr. Sherri. Do the Clothes Make the Man? Interview.