2. FAMILY
“We are born into a Family life is a universal
family, mature in a human experience, but
family, form new no two people share the
families, and leave our exact same experience
families upon death.”(pp1)
When one forms a family
We create families just they create a system
as we are created by that is build on their
our family (pp1)
interaction and
communication patterns.
(pp57)
3. Meet the Botwin Family
The Botwin family is
a happy two-parent
biological family
There is a strong
bond of love
between all
members
Communication is
transactional and all
are active in making
family decisions.
4. Nancy Judah
The parents
Nancy is a loving mother who is especially affectionate towards her youngest son
Shane. She works but spends her free time doing house work and taking care of her
kids and husband. Judah is a loving husband who shows his affection verbally and
non-verbally. He works full time and is seen as the man of the house.
5. Silas Shane
Brothers
Silas is the oldest brother and he lets Shane know it! but he is always there for
him. He likes hanging out with Shane but sometimes he is too busy with his
friends. Silas is close with is dad and confides in him for advice. Shane is quite,
thoughtful and very intelligent. He wants to be just like his dad and older brother.
He has a close relationship with is mom.
6. Silas
Known in the family as the He is open with his
golden boy. He isn’t afraid parents about his
to say what is bothering relationships and sexual
him activities with girls
7. Shane
Treated like the typical Shane doesn’t always express
youngest sibling; you could say his thoughts and feelings
his mother babies him verbally unless approached.
9. Family dinner has become a
family ritual in the Botwin
house. It is a great time to
talk with one another
without interruptions Rituals serve as a way
to bond family members
of all ages and across
generations. (pp119)
Rituals contain a variety
of meanings and
messages. They remind
members who they are
and reflects a family’s
relational culture (pp116)
10. Relational Maintenance
We communicatively maintain
family relationships through our
everyday interactions (pp114). Nancy
and her friend support Shane by
watching his soccer game. Judah
and Nancy both participate in other
activities such as bring the kids to
school or talking about your day at
the diner table, this will help to
create and maintain the desired
relational definitions.
Talk is the essence to relational
maintenance. Talk may include
discissing individual needs,
negotiating new behaviors, or
forgiving another (PP112) .
The Botwin family uses all 5
maintenance strategies; positivity,
assurance, social networks, sharing
tasks and openness (pp113)
11. Families are characterized
by activities member share
From a systems perspective
the behavior of each family
member is related to and
dependent on the behavior
of the others
In this picture Nancy, Silas,
Shane, Andy and Doug all
spent the day at a fair.
12. With in a family system
the parts and the
relationship between
them form a whole;
changes in one part will
result in changes in the
others. (pp59)
After the death of Judah
the family is faced with
unpredictable stress. This
kind of stress is brought
about by events that
disrupt life patterns but
can’t be foreseen. (pp300)
Communication patterns
and networks change
drastically when members
face a major crisis such as
death. (pp309)
13. Stages of Family Crisis
4 stages
1.Shock resulting in
In a crisis such as death
numbness, disbelief, or
the family goes through a
denial
process in handling the
loss. (pp307) 2. Recoil stage resulting in
anger, confusion, blaming,
and guilt
3. Depression
4.Reorganization resulting in
acceptance
(pp307)
14. Judah’s brother moves in
Andy decides to move in with Nancy
Nancy lost the one person she
and the kids. The family formation,
confided in. Andy s now there to
among other things, had changed
take his place.
due to the crisis.
15. Family roles
The unexpected death of a family member sends a family system into
role confusion. Nancy’s role has now change since she has to be the
primary money maker. Silas has stepped up and assumed the role of
man of the house. He helps out Nancy with the household needs (task
role)and has become more like a father figure to Shane. Shane seems
to be more separated from the family.
16. New family theme:
Family Sticks Together
The Botwin family coped with
death by pulling together and
making things work. In the New rituals were made; they
process the family overcame celebrate Judah’s birthday
many challenges and created together but in a new way
new roles, communication
styles, and behaviors
