Postmodernism Families - Essay Example

Postmodernism Families It is a matter of fact that nowadays family patterns have changed and expanded as they are more inclusive and less traditional. It means that modern age of industrialization has been replaced by postmodern age resulting in series of changes regarding core family values, everyday life and traditions. Some scientists use the term postmodernism in terms of family relations, whereas in other spheres this term is neglected and paid less attention. Therefore the chapter summarizes the descriptions of the postmodern family and postmodern family therapy.

Furthermore, the author provides postmodern family role to better understand their current way of life. (Hartman 1995)It is apparent that the everyday life in the postmodern family significantly changes with the increase of life tempo. Postmodern families thus try to stand afloat of democracy, pluralism, religious freedom and mobility. Families are also affected by increased access to entertainment and news. New postmodern families are provided with new world look meaning that postmodern age has created new beliefs and multiple realities.

Nowadays families prefer to ignore the concept of absolute truth. (Hartman 1995)The author states that postmodern society is becoming more epistemological being able to relevance and validation in different ways. Actually it is mentioned that such moving from one type of relations to another will inevitably cause "a self in continuous alteration". (Hartman 1995)For example available technologies provide postmodern families with opportunities to be in different states of motion and mind. Hartman defines postmodern families as floating families suggesting that the boundaries are too porous and weak nowadays.

(Hartman 1995)Power is an important attribute of the family and is considered traditional tool for decision-making process. Health care professionals state that oppressive, sexist and authoritarian families face serious problems. They outline that such ideals as security, sense of kinsfolk, safety and truth has been completely vanished in those families. Therapy of postmodern families is a really difficult task which requires "turning around one's thought processes". (Hartman 1995) The author stresses that postmodernism has emerged from modern tradition and therapy should start from this reference point.

Such therapy would develop in postmodern family the desire for order and clarify, for purity and truth. Thus family therapists underline the role of universal organizational patterns for family behavior. Nowadays therapists are more interested in the stories told by the families about themselves rather than in constructive approach. (Hartman 1995)It is also noted that postmodernism is interested in the following themes: cultural diversity, multiplicity and pluralism, skepticism, language of discourses and usually suspicion.

The family therapy signaled that postmodern families are characterized by eclecticism and actually rethinking of the role played by therapist.The chapter provides also the role perspectives for postmodern families considering if family is a care unit, certain roles have to be adapted by practitioners. For example, technical roles give the opportunity to respond quickly and flexibly to competing situations. Description roles are of great importance as they assist families in realizing new meanings and rectifying existing problems.

Decision-making role is also called a role of judge meaning that a practitioner may become a mediator in the judgment process. Teacher-learning role makes the process of family therapy more egalitarian. Mediator role implies change in the developmental state and provides movement to a preferable state. Other roles involve political-activist role, self-reflexivity role, etc. (Hartman 1995)In conclusion it is necessary to say that family therapists face many challenges working with postmodern families as they have to find new tools and approaches how to describe the complexities faced by those families.

ReferencesHartman, Sherry. (1995). Preparing Modern Practitioners for Postmodern Families. Journal of Holistic Medicine, 9, 4, 110-118.