Divorce, domestic violence, and mental health are prevalent issues within the Johnson and Henare families. Several complex but dominant subsystems emerge in the family, namely the spousal subsystem, biological parent-child subsystem, nonbiological stepparent-stepchild subsystem, and the parental/ex-spousal subsystem (Dupis, 2010). As biological parents of 17-year old Kae and four-year old Tao, Michelle Johnson and Naihi Henare from the parental/ex-spousal system while also in the biological parent-child subsystem with their child individually. Michelle is also in a new spousal subsystem with Justin whom she married after her divorce and, thereby, creating a nonbiological stepparent-stepchild subsystem between Justin and each of her two children.
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Despite previous legal issues, Kae’s behaviours worsen only after his mother’s marriage to Justin. Another precipitating factor to Kae’s misconduct was the divorce between Naihi and Michelle, as divorce symbolises the disintegration of an essential, model structure to the child (McIntosh, 2003). Adding to this stressful period, he is also in search of his own identity, a pivotal phase in Erikson’s psychosocial stage (Sokol, 2009). Unable to manage the emotional difficulties, Kae manifest in externalising behaviours, such as aggression and delinquency (Eisenberg et al., 2011) and thus, heightening the negative cycle between both parents and the child (Dallos & Vetere, 2012).
Moreover, Kae often shares Michelle’s emotional burdens by intervening in her conflicts with Justin through verbal and physical aggression. It creates a vicious cycle of abuse that is positively reinforced by other family member’s silence. When Kae intervenes aggressively, Michelle stands back which is an indirect support of family violence (Howes, Cicchetti, Toth, & Rogosch, 2000). Subsequently, reinforcing the behaviours of abuse and aggression and increasing the likelihood and severity of violence. Thus, creating a repetitive cycle that continues to build on the family …show more content…
Due to the lack of support that Michelle receives, Kae becomes her sounding board and thereby, forming an enmeshed relationship with her son (Dallos & Vetere, 2012). It also creates an exclusion of the other step-parent, Justin, and increases the likelihood of behavioural difficulties for the child (Johnson, 2010). Kae unconsciously develops coping skills, such as aggression, to handle both personal and family problems. Because of the enmeshed relationship that Michelle has with Kae, the boundary between the mother-son subsystem is ambiguous and triangulated, and thus, increasing Kae’s need to mediate during Michelle’s and Justin’s conflict (Minuchin, 1985).
Given Michelle’s personal stress from home and work, she becomes emotionally detached with symptoms of major depressive disorder. Due to her depressive symptoms and emotionally unavailability, she is less responsive and is unable to match Kae’s emotional states (Morris et al., 2009). By turning to Kae with her difficulties, it radically speeds up his emotional and mental development unconsciously. In this perspective, the mother-son subsystem is, perhaps skewed, as Kae do not benefit much from the relationship and thus, estranging the relationship between Michelle and
Despite previous legal issues, Kae’s behaviours worsen only after his mother’s marriage to Justin. Another precipitating factor to Kae’s misconduct was the divorce between Naihi and Michelle, as divorce symbolises the disintegration of an essential, model structure to the child (McIntosh, 2003). Adding to this stressful period, he is also in search of his own identity, a pivotal phase in Erikson’s psychosocial stage (Sokol, 2009). Unable to manage the emotional difficulties, Kae manifest in externalising behaviours, such as aggression and delinquency (Eisenberg et al., 2011) and thus, heightening the negative cycle between both parents and the child (Dallos & Vetere, 2012).
Moreover, Kae often shares Michelle’s emotional burdens by intervening in her conflicts with Justin through verbal and physical aggression. It creates a vicious cycle of abuse that is positively reinforced by other family member’s silence. When Kae intervenes aggressively, Michelle stands back which is an indirect support of family violence (Howes, Cicchetti, Toth, & Rogosch, 2000). Subsequently, reinforcing the behaviours of abuse and aggression and increasing the likelihood and severity of violence. Thus, creating a repetitive cycle that continues to build on the family …show more content…
Due to the lack of support that Michelle receives, Kae becomes her sounding board and thereby, forming an enmeshed relationship with her son (Dallos & Vetere, 2012). It also creates an exclusion of the other step-parent, Justin, and increases the likelihood of behavioural difficulties for the child (Johnson, 2010). Kae unconsciously develops coping skills, such as aggression, to handle both personal and family problems. Because of the enmeshed relationship that Michelle has with Kae, the boundary between the mother-son subsystem is ambiguous and triangulated, and thus, increasing Kae’s need to mediate during Michelle’s and Justin’s conflict (Minuchin, 1985).
Given Michelle’s personal stress from home and work, she becomes emotionally detached with symptoms of major depressive disorder. Due to her depressive symptoms and emotionally unavailability, she is less responsive and is unable to match Kae’s emotional states (Morris et al., 2009). By turning to Kae with her difficulties, it radically speeds up his emotional and mental development unconsciously. In this perspective, the mother-son subsystem is, perhaps skewed, as Kae do not benefit much from the relationship and thus, estranging the relationship between Michelle and