Family System Theory - Term Paper Example

 «Family System Theory» The human society is as an amalgamation of the various institutions and entities. Each of the social structure allows the formal working and enables formal existence of the society as a whole. This institution of family is one of the important ones with reference to the social outlook of a given society. No society can be found to exist without the element and institution of family. Among the four to five basic institutions that are part of any given society, the roots of family as an institution can be stretched to as one of the earliest with regard to the inception of the society of mankind. The institution of family is perhaps most important in the context and comparison of all the major institutions that are part of any given society (Andersen & Taylor, 2007¸p. 86). The fact that family is the first seat of learning and it even comes before education as an institute makes it more important than any of the other institutions. Even the religious affiliations which drive an individual in the moral direction are defined by the family determinant of social outlook. Family as an institution within a society brings along number of components, prerequisites and structural foundations. Many sociologists have presented their views with regard to the structure, essence and the overall concept of family as a social institute. While the further dissection of a given family pattern may differ between societies, the originally affiliating basis of a family is nearly constant regardless of the society, period, culture and patterns that existent within a given society and environment. While each of the institution established within the society by the mankind has its own purpose and function to it. Each has its own defining role, characteristic, functioning, service delivery and other components that are necessary towards making the society a functional one. Family system theory which is one of the many theories that have been developed with regard to the social outlook of society terms the existence of individual and recognition subject to the agent of family. Without this, the individual would fail to establish any recognition within the society. The proponent of such mindset was Doctor Murray Bowen. J.J Macionis (Macionis, 2007) has also given his account of understanding with regard to the importance of family as an integral agent in the social peace (Wormer, 2007, p.233). Theory of socialization: The theory of socialization is the foundation to the basis of the concept of family and other institutions. The realization and actual identification of the individual lead to the establishment of family and grouping based on the biological and arranged unification of people as a single family. Socialization patterns may vary subject to the living standards provided by the parents and the demographics surrounding the family. A relatively conservative family pattern will lead the individuals to be groomed in an environment that is restricted in its resources, similarly the one that is relatively expanded in its outlook and expenses will lead to more opportunities in terms of the financial standings. Sea same street is also mentioned as one of the socializing agents towards the children of United States of America and is believed to have played its role with regard to the initial nurturing and getting familiar with the social values. Apart from education and the informal means available at the early age in the form of cartoons and other functions, media, adult age interaction and other formal means of interaction are few means by which an individual gets socialized and learns the values and manners of society. Various trends may prevail in the family order in the form of future prospects. These broadly include the endogamy, polygamy, monogamy or polyandry concept and each of these is associated with the kind of family patterns that are existent within a given society. For example the polyandry concept may be seen in the Muslim countries which is according to their religious believes. Structural perspective of a family within the society: The family as an institution can be judged through the number of variables and determining factors, these include symbolic interactionism, Functionalism and Theory of Conflict. Each of these may be addressed in the context of macro level standing in the society to the micro level standing. The symbolic interactionism within the society with reference to family persists in the form of the various symbols and characteristics used by the family to represent themselves within the society. Functionalism concept correlation between the family and other institutions can be inferred to through the fact that family as an institution sets foundation for the individual to stand and be represented within the society. The absence of it will lead to loss of identity in the first place. Family is a completely coherent and gelling concept with regard to the co relation and existence with the other components of society. Conflict theory perspective: Within the context of families, the conflict may arise in the form of the haves and have-nots. Those who are equipped and sufficient enough to make their own means may come in conflict with those who find it hard to make two ends meet. The potential manipulation and the possible lack of correlation between the two may be taken for a conflict theory perspective between the two segments of the society in the form of progressive and the struggle or the lower middle classes. The structural changes in the family patterns directly tell on the outward manners within the family and society as a whole. United States of America is believed to have undergone the change in structure with regard to the family trends. Women more actively participating, the children reliant upon their own part time means of fulfilling the basic needs or the women making up for the needs in the case of men being laid off. The norm less existence of family may appear in a given society in the form of divorce, separation of the parents, the isolation of the young ones and the shifting over of the children at age of 18 and above. Summary: All the aforementioned functions and traits in a given individual are induced through the institution of family as a whole. It gives the individual a state of recognition as well as platform through which he or she can represent himself and fulfill the tasks. References: Andersen, M., & Taylor, H. (2007). Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society, Updated. Cengage Learning. Cates, C. L. (2001). Law and the Web of Society. Georgetown University Press Ferrante, J. (2010). Sociology: A Global Perspective, Enhanced. Cengage Learning Macionis, J. J. (2007). Sociology. Granite Hill Publishers Wormer, K. S. (2007). Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Micro Level: Individuals and Families. Oxford University Press Read More