Families as Units Promoting Health through Knowledge
First point, families are systems which are structured
through networked formations. Individual are influenced to form units. It
is similar to the structure of an atom held together by energy.
The relationship system's affiliation or "glue" or lack
thereof, forms the shape or organization of the network. People have little
awareness of the links between the types, numbers and intensity of interactions
on health and functioning.
The effect of family structure on functioning can be demonstrated
as people alter their affiliations. Shifts in contact with one's family
or friendship system occur during nodal points: births, leaving home, geographical
moves, symptoms, traumas and death.
The small intense family, cut off from past generations,
would be at one end of the spectrum. This unit may consist of only
a mother and child and transitional others. At the other end of the
spectrum are nuclear families, with rich links to the past, valuing open
communication.
Second point, emotional units follows certain rules. Triangles
stabilize a twosome; two individuals select a third to be negative about.
Knowledge of rules can formalize our understanding of the way people interact.
Even a defense state, such as emotional cutoff, where one generation removes
energy from another generation; can have short term positive feedback for
a threatened group.
Third point, signaling regulates the formation of networks.
There are verbal and nonverbal signals, with hormonal involvement.
From oxytocin to adrenaline, bonding promotes physiological reactivity.
Conclusions: People know what type of network they belong
to, if they are asked. This information can alter their functioning. The
degree of interpersonal openness can reduce the emotional loading in a network.
Eventually a simple formula can be arrived at that will inform people of
the risk reward of belonging to various networks.
Andrea Maloney Schara
LCSWA
Bowen Center for the Study of the Family
www.ideastoaction.com
arms711@aol.com