This week we spent a day going over different theories of examining families. I found them interesting because each is a unique yet logical way of looking at the family. The Systems Theory focuses on how each member of the family is an important part of the whole. If something happens to one, all others are affected in some way. We all have roles that we are given that help us fit into our family.
Another theory is the Exchange Theory which allows for cost versus benefit in understanding relationships. The idea behind it is that if you don't get at least as much back as you give, you won't stick around. In a relationship, a person weighs the pros and cons of actions they could participate in and then make the best choices.
The Symbolic Interaction Theory explains a view of families that allows for symbols in everything. Every action is sending a message; all things have meaning whether we respond or not. The symbols that we interpret are subjective because every action can mean something different from one person to the next. The family of origin plays a big part in influencing understanding of symbols.
Conflict Theory is an understanding that in families there are limited resources that have to be distributed appropriately. This theory is often used to explain the differences between genders and classes. All families have to find a system that allows for compromise.
All of these theories work to explain how multifaceted a family is. There is no one theory that can completely explain the dynamics of a family because each takes a different look at how the family manages itself. I think it's fascinating that we can explain one thing in so many diverse ways.
Which theory do you think you would use to look at your family?
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