Family Systems Theory Paper

The systems theory was created by Dr. Bowen in the 1950’s in response to the observation of family adaptation to anxiety and stress (Cash, 2014). In the video, Cash explains that in Dr. Bowen’s theory: family members are emotionally connected, affect each other’s thoughts, feelings and actions, they seek other members’ approval and support and react to the needs, expectations and distress of their family members (2014). In the family systems theory: families are complex and interdependent emotional units, each family unit is different; this interdependence evolves from needs, as in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: food, protection, shelter, love (Cash, 2014). The stress and anxiety of one family member will spread to other members: like dominos or Newton’s Cradle (one ball is raised, and falls, the energy is transferred to the ball at the end of the row, and in turn, it will raise and fall) (Cash, 2014). In a nursing application (the focus of the video) the goal is to maintain or …show more content…
Identify and describe key assumptions, concepts, and processes of each theory. The ecological systems theory, also known as the human ecology theory was created by Urie Bronfenbrenner, introducing a change in thought in the field of developmental psychology; leading to the creation of the head start program in 1965 (Kimball, 2014). In the ecological systems theory, there are 5 different environmental levels that affect a child (Kimball, 2014). At the core of this system is the child, each child has their own environment to grow up and live in; the attributes of each child are what makes the system unique: age, gender, health, and personality (Lester, …show more content…
You’ll want to create a case study of the family using one theory, then create a case study of the same family using the other theory. TIP: use the vocabulary of the theory to describe the