Family Systems Theory Analysis

Words: 1283
Pages: 6

For the purpose of this theoretical analysis, I will change the names of each person involved in the case to protect the identity of my clients. I will refer to the family as a whole as the Deeds family.
On March 6, 2017, the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) hotline was contacted regarding the daughter, Lily, age 12. The caller reported that she resides in the family home with her mother, Ms. Deeds, her mother’s partner, Ms. Thomas, and her brother, David, age 11. The report stated that Lily had missed a week of school, but when she returned she was observed with two black eyes and scratches around her neck and face. The caller reported that Lily indicated that she was absent because she was sick, nauseous, and not feeling well.
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Specifically, family and systems theories focus in on the family component and attempts to justify individual behaviors within the framework of interpersonal relationships, family systems, and larger community systems, as well as how these systems relate to the development and continuance of family violence (Hyde-Nolann & Juliao, n.d.). Family systems theory implies that each individual within a family system can only be understood as it relates to the other members within the family unit; they cannot be understood in separation from one another and looked at individually as each member plays a specific role in the family. Murray (2006) states that family systems theory supports that individuals within families are complicatedly connected to one another and the involvements in one part of the system affect all other parts of the system …show more content…
Out of the two children Lily would be deemed the hero child as she typically receives the most attention and praise from her birth mother, whereas David would be the lost child as he often keeps to himself and frequently avoids certain exchanges with his birth mother, by watching movies or playing games on his phone with his headphones connected, while Lily and Ms. Deeds continuously interact with one another. The behaviors of the children are presented in their given roles. Theory says that Lily will try to be the angel child and will aim to please her mother no matter what it takes. Her behaviors and thoughts will revolve around constantly receiving gratification from her mother as she thinks and feels that she cannot disappoint her and has to be “perfect” at all times. On the other hand, David will fall victim to feeling as if his mother does not care as much for him as she does for his sister, and it’s not that he has done anything to make her act towards him in a negative manner, but because the lost child is habitually “forgotten” and obtains less of the attention. His behaviors and thoughts say that he feels unwanted and unworthy, with the fear of being rejected should he step out of his comfortable place and engage with his mother in the ways he normally would not. When it comes to the parents, Ms. Deeds and Ms.