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Systems Theory Brings It All Together in Undergraduate Education

 

I have learned how, through the family systems theory, we can look at how the family works as a whole rather than examining each individual member. It is a way to understand an individual based on their role/part/interactions within their family unit. —Middy, Senior Student, Family Studies Concentrator, Psychology Major


Undergraduate students are at a liminal place in life; new relationships, independence, and growth are bordered by past family structures and dynamics along with anticipation and preparation for a post-college future. This is an ideal time to introduce systems theory thinking by studying family systems theory (FST) and family ecological theory (FET). Though most students may not go on to careers in couple and family therapy, the way in which they make sense of the world and see themselves as connected to others is positively influenced by these theories.

Family systems theory

FST can be broadly understood with the image of a mobile hanging over a baby’s crib. If one piece is moved, the other pieces also move; you can’t change one part of a system without changing everything else.

Family systems theory and the ecological model provide a great foundation from which to develop understandings for effective family therapy and intervention strategies as an undergraduate social work student —Learning the basics of each theory in relation to intersectionality is especially helpful in my undergraduate social work learning related to cultural competence/humility and the importance of human relationships.
—Hayley, Senior Student, Family Studies Concentrator and Social Work Major

Most of the students at the liberal arts college where I have taught for seven years are young adults who are living away from their family for the first time. There is an opportunity for these students to step away from the system in which they were raised and examine it. To facilitate this, I ask students to apply FST to their family, a friend’s family, or a fictional family. Most choose their family. In doing so, past students have articulated insights related to family gender roles, unspoken rules, and the process of accepting a sibling’s partner as part of the family. Students also reflect on how relationships within their family have or will change. For example, as the hierarchy between them and their parents begins to flatten, their relationship will likely be less dependent and more equitable. Concepts that Bowen originally discussed, such as individuation and enmeshment (Kerr & Bowen, 1988) apply to college students’ day-to-day life. These concepts can help students to understand themselves and others, both academically and personally.This educational approach is hopefully sowing good seeds for personal relationship development in the future.

Family studies isn’t just about looking at and analyzing the family system; it is a critique on the way our beings affect each other and how we do better as a societal system.
—Mannie, Senior Student, Family Studies Concentrator, Race and Ethnic Studies Concentrator and Sociology/Anthropology Major

Using a theory like FST to understand members of a family or group as one functional unit offers unique insight into how systemic problems arise, possible intervention points, and how to view situations from different perspectives. This theory can be applied to many teams, working groups, or medical systems. This is also true of more advanced topics, including feedback loops and homeostasis. As such, FST is a building block to understand concepts like boundaries between and around groups of people, hierarchies within groups, and how people enact roles and establish unspoken rules. And because FST stems from general systems theory, which can be applied to many aspects of life—from biology to technology (Allen & Henderson, 2016)—students who go on to professions in a variety of areas can benefit.

Learning family theory is so important for any profession because, although families are all different, everyone has some sort of family. It also is very helpful to manage your own family and friendsfriends’ relationships. You can learn how to analyze your relationships and how to communicate about it.
—Rose, Senior Student, Family Studies Concentrator, Biology and Religion Major

Historical context and reconsidering family systems theory

However, while exploring the meaningful insights that FST can offer in the undergraduate classroom, the background and historical context of FST should also be discussed. Early family systems theorists did not take into account the role of power and privilege from sociocultural structures that influence the family system (Allen & Henderson, 2016); for example, failing to recognize the lack of power that a woman has who is experiencing abuse compared to her husband who is abusing her. Moreover, a white, middle class family was often the ‘standard’ model in early FST (Coontz, 2000). Given this patriarchal and biased history, it is important to teach students to critique the past and explore new ways to think about and apply this theory.

James, Coard, Fine, and Rudy (2018) illuminate the importance of this in their discussion of FST in the context of race, racism, and time period. Racial identities are not often created under a person’s own choosing, especially for Black American families, and the time period affects this. Reconsidering FST in this way offers a deeper understanding of the world, racism, inequalities, and the impact on family life.

With historical criticisms in mind, FST is able to help scholars and students cast a new light on contemporary issues. For example, Aranda, Vaquera, Castañeda (2021) apply the theory to families of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and their transition to adulthood. This is an issue that many college students feel strongly about, and might be directly affected. By applying FST to the impact of DACA on families, Aranda et al. highlight the impact of immigration status on the entire family system.

Family ecological theory

In conjunction with FST, FET can provide students with a deeper understanding of how institutions, policies, and even time periods influence families and an individual’s health and relationships (Allen & Henderson, 2016). As compared to the image of a baby’s mobile for FST, FET uses a concept known as process-person-context-time (PPCT) which can be thought of as a series of concentric circles that center on individual development within all the related influences beginning with the family unit. This model can also initiate reflection about value development in families, which I find especially helpful today as many students are determining their own values.

The ecological model has let me explore the complex interplay between the individual and the different systems. It provides a holistic approach that is inclusive of all the systems children and families are in and reflects the complicated dynamics of real-life families. These concepts are important to learn in undergrad because individuals are able to apply critical thinking to learn and understand intersectional identities!
—Sophie, Senior Student, Family Studies Concentrator, Race and Ethnic Studies Concentrator and Psychology Major

During the COVID-19 pandemic and time of increased awareness of racial inequality, FET has been especially relevant. By applying this theory to their own lives, as well as case examples, students are able to see how each concentric circle in the model influences the others. The chronosystem, or time period (Allen & Henderson, 2016), of the ecological model is filled with pandemic change and stress for many young people, including those who graduated high school during the pandemic and have made the transition to college with less social connection and more upheaval than years before. Job opportunities, pay inequality and structural racism affect the micro and macro systems of the ecological model. This model is useful to students as they read the news, understand their own lived experience, and prepare for a career.

The ecological systems model has been transformational in my understanding of intersectional identities and ongoing oppression faced by under-resourced communities. By approaching each family at the center of a system, it’s easier to see how different layers of the ecological systems model mobilize to either assist or harm the family in question and how interventions at each level can effectively address family needs.
—Faith, Senior Student, Family Studies Concentrator and Psychology and American Studies Major

Of note, Perry-Jenkins and Wadsworth (2017) applied FET to examine the lived experience of work across several decades. In the concentric circles that are the ecological model, students can consider how things like medical policies, health, and childcare all interact to influence the experience of work over time. In class, students are asked to draw their own ecological model, categorizing aspects of their current life in each level. This activity helps students to see the theory in their lives. Often, ‘studying theory’ can be intimidating to students. However, engaging them in an active, creative process gives the theory a concreteness and purpose.

Learning about the ecological model prior to doing clinical work is important because we all have our own world view, and acknowledging that our world view is different from others is important for doing good social work. Understanding intersecting identities, even if they are identities that you do not personally relate to, will help you understand the individuals you work with better, as their behaviors, responses, struggles, etc., are more nuanced than what you might first think. I think it’s important to teach this kind of stuff before going out and doing work because we need to break down our own biases and worldview in order to get into the client’s world.
—Claire, Senior Student, Family Studies Concentrator, Neuroscience Concentrator and Psychology Major

Another example of application to current issues is applying FET to kinship foster care (Hong, Algood, Chiu, & Lee, 2011). The authors break down aspects of kinship foster care, including race, ethnicity and policies that affect the macro level for a child, and illuminate the African American tradition of kin care and interdependence in their extended social network. Applying FET to this situation helps students and any helper to see the important place of considering racial and ethnic differences in caring for children and including the greater community to create stability for them.

This active learning approach continues for students who decide to further study family studies.  Students who pursue a family studies concentration must fulfill an experiential component involving 40 hours of working with families. This hands-on learning has given students a direct  interaction with family systems. During a senior seminar, students reflect on this experiential component by applying family level theories. Students can see in real time how members influence each other, how the organization where they work operates as a system, and how outside influences related to the work affect the family. This is a meaningful capstone as students prepare for their work and lives in communities and families.

Learning about the family systems theory is important in undergraduate education, as it frames our perspectives from the beginning on how much everything is interrelated. Nothing can affect one member in a family system without having an impact on others. I think this is overlooked a lot, especially in something like job loss. I have learned about the ecological model, as well, and how there are factors impacting everyone’s day at many different levels, some we don’t see. It reminds me of that analogy, you have had 100 people step on your toe, and on the 101st, your toe is already so swollen and hurts, that you cry. It might seem weird to that 101st person that you cried over that, but they do not see everything else that has been impacting you. I think this has helped me understand identities different from my own, as I am reminded about how I will never fully and truly understand what others are facing or dealing with, and it is my duty to be understanding and supportive no matter the situation.
Allison, Junior Student, Family Studies Concentrator and Nursing Major

Erica Kanewischer, PhD, LMFT, is an AAMFT Professional member holding the Approved Supervisor designation, and is on the faculty of St. Olaf College in the David and Karen Olson Family Studies Program in the Department of Social Work and Family Studies. Recent project topics have included studying family and parenting resilience during COVID-19. She is in private practice in Stillwater, MN, where she works with couples and individuals.


REFERENCES

Allen, K., & Henderson, A. (2016). Family theories: Foundations and applications. New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.

Aranda, E., Vaquera, E., & Castañeda, H. (2021). Shifting roles in families of deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) recipients and implications for the transition to adulthood. The Journal of Family Issues, 42(9), 2111-2132.

Coontz, S. (2000). Historical perspectives on family studies. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(2), 283-297.

Hong, J., Algood, C., Chiu, Y., & Lee, S. (2011). An ecological understanding of kinship foster care in the United States. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20, 863-872.

James, A., Coard, S.,  Fine, M., & Rudy, D. (2018). The central roles of race and racism in reframing family systems theory: A consideration of choice and time. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 10, 419-433.

Kerr & Bowen (1988). Family evaluation. Ontario, Canda: Penguin Books.

Perry-Jenkins, M., & Wadsworth, S. (2017). Work and family research and theory: Review and analysis from an ecological perspective. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 9, 219-237.

Other articles

Gray Divorce: Splitting Up Later in Life

What is Family Systems Theory?

Though it has been widely discussed, it’s surprisingly hard to define. Murray Bowen has a family systems theory—he and Michael Kerr described it in their 1988 book, Family Evaluation. More recently, Alan Carr (2016) described what he saw as the 20 hypotheses of family systems theory.
Jacob B. Priest, PhD

Meaning of Aging in a Time of Crisis

Historical Overview of Family Systems Theory

Beginning in the mid 20th century, the practice of family therapy began to coalesce around certain key theories and systems to form an approach by which future practitioners could base their observations and work for important changes for the health of individuals and relationships.
Tara Signs, PhD

Gray Divorce: Splitting Up Later in Life

Reimagining the Application of Systems Theory Via Teletherapy Interventions

Teletherapy allows us to connect with clients that we might not otherwise be able to reach. For those in rural communities where access to care has traditionally been a challenge, the rapid progression of teletherapy exponentially increased options available for treatment.
Rebecca Cobb, PhD