Family Systems Theory Of Family Essay

Family Make-Up
Henry’s family is diverse. While there are differences in opinion and some tension within the family system, Henry is lucky to have several adults that love him and want what is best. However, Henry’s family is what could be considered “high-risk”. Henry’s parents are divorced, with his mother having had primary custody of Henry two times and his father having had primary custody of Henry two times. Each of these changes came on the heels of Henry being placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services. Henry’s mother and father both struggle to find time in their schedule for Henry due to challenging and demanding work schedules. Another factor that contributes to Henry’s family being considered high risk would be the …show more content…
There are two primary theories that view the child as being a part of a system. These theories are the family systems theory and the ecological systems theory. The family systems theory has a complete framework that looks at the different aspects of how the family operates as a system. The ecological systems theory looks at how various systems that the child comes into contact with interact to influence that child. While these theories differ in their focus, their overall premise is similar; young children function in a system or group of systems that has a profound impact on their development. Henry’s family is made up of several different systems. His home with his mother, her boyfriend, and his baby sister is one system. Another family system Henry has contact with is the family system that is present with his father. Henry’s predominant family system has been in flux in the past, as seen by his placement into the custody of the Department of Human Services. Each different family system holds different boundaries, ideals for buffering and bonding, rituals and traditions, rules, hierarchies, goals, and roles. It is easy to see how experiencing different family systems might influence Henry’s