Family Dynamics and the Chapters of My Life

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Family Dynamics and the Chapters of My Life

Introduction

Family dynamics is used to describe how family members interact with one another, the roles they play, and the connections they maintain (Jabbari & Rouster, 2022) Family members are one of the critical causes of relationship stress or security because of their reliance on one other for physical, emotional, and economic support According to family systems theory, the family is not just a group of individuals but a dynamic social system in which the members’ interactions shape the behavior of all the members Based on our beliefs, a family unit is considered complete when it consists of a man, a woman, and any kids they may have from their marriage A more profound comprehension of interpersonal connections and family dynamics is achievable via familiarity with the concepts that form the basis of family systems theory This paper will discuss several marriages and family concepts and how they apply to our family systems The concepts to be discussed are extended family, companionate family, gender socialization, verbal communication, compassionate love, marriage, and macro-level Family is an essential element of our everyday existence and plays a significant role in our lives; thus, it is very crucial to comprehend the systems and concepts at work inside them.

Extended family is one of the major marriage and family concepts that have played a significant role in our family systems The extended family comprises at least three generations; the grandparents, husband, wife, and their children, as well as additional offspring from either spouse’s side of the family In our family systems, the concept of extended families has been very helpful since, in extended family households people have reliable confidants in their parents and other relatives who sincerely care about their well-being and whom they can talk about the challenges of adult life This creates a strong network of loved ones, which in turn makes everyone happier and less stressed (LaFave & Thomas, 2017) In addition, through the concept of extended family, our families have been able to weather hardships and meet the needs of their children because of the strength of their multigenerational bonds and the pooled resources at our disposal Besides, families can share expenses and take care of one another’s children, thus promoting love and unity However, there are several risks that are associated with the extended family concept that decreases the well-being of our families For example, extended families focus on wider kin groups instead of individual relationships, this leads to loyalty problems within families, complex relationships between couples, and generational conflicts.

Another marriage and family concept that has been applied in our family system is compassionate family By applying the concept of compassionate family in our family systems, we have been able to feel empathy for the pain of others and the urge to do something to alleviate their suffering We have applied this concept to show tenderness and kindness toward our family members In addition, the act of compassion helps us to connect with human suffering in a compassionate and understanding manner, allowing us to do actions that provide solace to individuals in our immediate environment, including our families We have instilled compassion in our families by providing children with opportunities to exhibit compassion, assisting children in developing an understanding of anger, and instructing young ones in developing the ability to self-regulate their emotions Also, practicing compassion in our families has made our families feel connected, safe, secure, healthy, and happy Through practicing compassionate family, we always put other people’s needs ahead of our own needs when necessary Lastly, by applying the concept of compassionate family in our family systems, we have built positive family relationships, which have made the young ones in our families feel safe and loved, thus encouraging them to try new things, take risks, and learn Besides, this has facilitated more accessible family problem-solving, conflict resolution, and appreciation for other viewpoints.

Moreover, gender socialization is another marriage and family concept that has played a significant role in our family system Gender socialization refers to how people internalize gender roles and norms via their interactions with influential members of society, including their families, friends, schools, and communities (Hoominfar, 2019) By applying gender socialization in our family systems, children have learned about the social attitudes, expectations, and behaviors classically associated with girls and boys Besides, by understanding the concept of gender socialization, we have been able to address the detrimental effects of gender discrimination and gender inequality in our family systems Thus, we have been able to promote sustainable development goals with the aim of eliminating discrimination against women and providing equitable opportunities for all people in our families and communities Taking steps toward long-term, all-encompassing growth while also reducing inequalities is a major social victory due to applying gender socialization In addition, by reinforcing gender roles and norms in our families, females behave differently from males as a result of social roles and norms they learned throughout their childhood In our family system, girls and boys receive different treatment from their parents In addition, parents have different behavioral expectations for their daughters and sons Parents actively contribute to the perpetuation of gender stereotypes in children’s media, literature, and play by choosing activities and playing with their children’s toys that are geared toward certain genders Besides, parents have always been the reinforcers, instructors, and models of their children’s gender role attitudes Lastly, gender socialization has caused the creation of gender roles which have resulted to gender-specific social behavior in our family system.

Verbal communication is another marriage and family concept applied in our family systems Verbal communication involves the use of spoken language to convey message The two commonly used forms of verbal communication in our families are written and oral communication In our family system, we use verbal communication to negotiate rules and roles, solve a problem, and conduct businesses of everyday living By reinforcing effective verbal communication skills in our family systems, we have been able to maintain healthy relationships at our homes, schools, and work places By exercising good communication in our families, we have strengthened our bonds and fix things when they go wrong According to (Hardy, n.d), verbal communication helps in defining reality, arranging thoughts, and molding attitudes within family systems Therefore, by applying the concept of verbal communication in our family system, we have been able to define reality, emotions, thoughts, experiences, people, and objects The application of verbal communication in our family system has given us the ability to openly discuss our wishes, needs, and worries with one another, which is a crucial part of family life Open and honest communication within our family systems has created an atmosphere that permits family members to communicate their thoughts and feelings to one another and also express their differences In addition, verbal communication has been very significant for married people in our family system as it enables them to have open and honest conversations with one another; which facilitates not only the sharing of ideas and feelings but also the establishment of shared priorities and plans for the future of the marriage thus resulting into long-term relationships (Pace & Welch, 2022).

In addition, compassionate love, a marriage, and family concept, has been widely applied to our family system over the years According to Chiesi et al. (2020), compassionate love is having knowledge and an understanding of other people’s pain, identifying with their pain, and being cognitively and emotionally moved to alleviate their suffering In our family system, we have fostered the concept of compassionate love to family members and societies to implement interventions that aim to improve peoples’ capacity to give and receive compassion Besides, we believe that the world we live in today requires us to show love and compassion to other people, and without the acts of love and compassion, life stands to be meaningless While acts of love weave the thread of togetherness in our family system, acts of compassion are something that pulls family members closer to one another Compassionate love is very crucial in our family system since it fosters meaningful connections, makes problem-solving easier, and makes a positive impact on both one’s health and well-being The essence of compassion consists of suspending judgment and steadfastly pursuing engagement in trying circumstances rather than avoiding them Also, the concept of compassionate love has been beneficial in our marriages since it helps marriage partners to feel passionate about one another Besides, through compassionate love, people arcanare deeply for their loved ones, truly know and understand their love partners, and enable them to be committed to their marriage partners through bood and hard times.

Marriage is another essential family and marriage concept that has been applied in our family system for years. Marriage is defined as a lifelong, exclusive. A monogamous relationship between one man and one woman is based on a shared commitment to love and support one another Marriage has played a vital role in our family system as it has proven to make family members happy and improve or boost the life expectancy of people Besides, marriage has been beneficial to society as a whole since married people tend to be more responsible and stable financially and emotionally Marriage being a life-long commitment has been an excellent way for men to learn how to be selfless as they serve their wives and children In addition, marriage has been applied in our family system to bring oneness as life partners move through the many challenges of their life together Also, marriage provides the strength to resist temptation via a mutually beneficial exchange of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being with one’s spouse.

Lastly, the macro level concept has also been applied in our family system to promote well-being over the years A macro-level perspective investigates how families, marriage, and other intimate relationships are intertwined with its institutions and the rest of the society Our family system understands that there is no such thing as an isolated family unit Therefore, understanding the ways in which families are shaped by cultural, social, political, and economic forces enables us to comprehend better the supposedly personal decisions we make The concept of macro-level has helped our family system to pay attention to the importance of the interconnectedness of intimate relationships, families, and marriage with the rest of the society In the past, families were primarily economic groups, but, nowadays, they are more likely to be founded on mutual love, compatibility, sexual attraction, and personal satisfaction These changes were brought about by several macro-level forces, including urbanization, , immigration, industrialization, societal crises like wars and depression, and the development of new technologies.

Conclusion

Conclusively, since family is a fundamental component of our day-to-day life and plays a big part in our lives, it is of the utmost importance to have an understanding of the concepts and ideas that are at play within them. Family is essential because they can provide not just support and protection but also love that is unrestricted. They will constantly search for the best in you and encourage you to bring it out, even if you are unable to see it yourself Young people’s perspectives about themselves, other people, and the world, as well as their connections with others, the behaviors they engage in, and their overall health and well-being, are often profoundly shaped by the dynamics of their families When working with a young person, it may be helpful for professionals to investigate the family dynamics of the young person to identify the motivating factors behind the young person’s present needs and formulate appropriate responses.

References

Chiesi, F., Lau, C., & Saklofske, D. H. (2020). A revised short version of the compassionate love scale for humanity (CLS-H-SF): evidence from item response theory analyses and validity testing BMC Psychology, 8(1), 1-9.

Hardy, M. (n.d.). Importance of Family Communication Available at: https://family.lovetoknow.com/about-family-values/importance-family-communication (Accessed: October 27, 2022).

Hoominfar, E. (2019). Gender socialization Gender Equality içinde, 1-10.

Jabbari, B. and Rouster, A.S. (2022) Family Dynamics – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560487/ (Accessed: October 27, 2022).

LaFave, D., & Thomas, D. (2017). Extended families and child well-being Journal of Development Economics, 126, 52-65.

Pace, R., and Welch, A. (2022) 10 reasons why communication in marriage is important, Marriage Advice – Expert Marriage Tips & Advice Available at: https://www.marriage.com/advice/communication/the-importance-of-communication-in-your-marriage/ (Accessed: October 27, 2022).