Addictive BehavioursLecture #3

Family Systems

Families as SystemsHomeostasis or balanceAddictionIndividualsHealthy systemsWhen family does not change, recover –

individual is at risk

Families as SystemsDysfunction has affected all family members

EnablingCodependence

Family membersDry drunkSecond bottom

Family rulesSecret keepingDon’t talkDon’t trustDon’t feel

Dysfunctional vs. imbalancedDysfunctional familyImbalanced familyGoal = establish balance and order by

addressing problems in the family

Types of family systemsRigidAmbiguousOverextended Distorted Entitled

Patterns of communicationRules are maintained but do not fit the reality

of what is felt or believedPlacatersBlamersIntellectualizers Distracters Healthy = congruent words, body, feelings

Family system rolesChief enablerFamily heroFamily scapegoatLost childFamily mascot

Managing anxietyUnder-functionersOver-functionersBlamersPursuersDistancers

Enabling behaviourUnhealthy doing-forKilling with kindnessOverprotectionTaking responsibility for others lack of

responsibilitySoften the consequencesDenial of real problems

Enabling behaviourAvoiding and shieldingAttempting to controlTaking over responsibilitiesRationalizing and accepting

Stages in recoverySimilar to stages of grievingDenialAngerBargainingFeelingAcceptance

EARLY MODELSPsychodynamic modelsSociological stress models

FAMILY-BASED CONCEPTUALIZATIONFamily disease modelFamily systems approachBehavioural approaches

ETIOLOGY Heredity Parent-child interactionsSocializationAntecedentsPositive consequencesNegative consequences