Family Structural Theory, Term Paper Example

How could you use the family structural theory to determine if a family is dysfunctional or not?

Family structural theories focus on how families are organized in terms of size and composition. There are a number of normal characteristics defined by sociologists as being the norm for a family. For example, a nuclear family, which is often the standard consists of a father, mother and child/children. Next are the extended family unions with additions of grand-parents, siblings, step children and other family members to the nuclear structures. Other family structures emerging from these foundation ones are grandparents’ families and same sex unions (Edelman & Mandle, 2010).

The question of dysfunction emerges from the fact that irrespective of structure a family is expected to provide emotional and financial support for its members. Therefore, if children do not have the basic necessities of life even though both parents may be present together in a building designated home it can be classified dysfunctional. More importantly, if the people making up this structure do no demonstrate some type of cohesion according to sociologists it is a dysfunctional structure (Gehart & Tuttle, 2003).

Precisely, system theorists try to explore the mechanisms engraved in sustaining cohesion within the structure. This cohesion is believed to be the catalyst that disperses into a functional society, being integrated in response. As such, the primary assumption that filters through this theoretical perspective is that family structure contains characteristics, which are capable of developing boundaries of authority as a subsystem; effective communication patterns and relationships which produce meaning distinct from meaningful relationships (Gehart & Tuttle, 2003). When these characteristics are not expressed the family structure is dysfunctional.

References

Edelman. L., & Mandle, L. (2010). Health Promotion throughout the Life Span. St. Louis, 1. Mosby.

Gehart, D., & Tuttle, R. (2003). Theory-based treatment planning for marriage and family therapists: Integrating theory and practice. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole/Thomson