Question 1

MRI therapists view the problematic interactional sequences in families as families attempting to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

MRI therapists believe that families engage in problematic interactional sequences as a way to maintain family homeostasis, even if these patterns are dysfunctional.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the basic component of a reframe?

Accepted Answer

Reframing involves presenting a different interpretation of an event or experience, which is essentially finding an alternative yet equally plausible explanation for the same set of facts. This technique is often used in therapy to help clients see their situations from a new, more positive or constructive perspective.

Question 3

In the big picture of treatment, MRI therapists focus solely on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

MRI therapists focus on interrupting the problem's interactional sequences, aiming to change the patterns of behavior that contribute to the problem rather than fixing the problem directly, focusing solely on the therapist's agenda, or repeating solutions that have not worked.

Question 4

When establishing the therapeutic relationship with clients, MRI systemic therapists respect the family as a system with its own unique way of knowing and understanding the world. Which of the following is one way MRI systemic therapists demonstrate respect to their clients?

Accepted Answer

MRI systemic therapists demonstrate respect by maintaining a one-down stance or an expert position, which means they respect the family's unique perspective and do not impose their own views or solutions. This approach facilitates a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Question 5

All of the following are examples of metacommunication EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Metacommunication refers to the non-verbal cues and signals that accompany communication, such as voice tone, eye glances, and gestures, which help to convey the speaker's true intent and emotions. Content, however, is the actual information or message being communicated, not the way in which it is communicated.

Question 6

When MRI systemic therapists view families in therapy, they always focus on:

Accepted Answer

MRI systemic therapists view families in therapy through the lens of their interactions, patterns, and dynamics, which can be described using various metaphors such as "the interaction," "the dance," and "the game." These terms collectively represent the complex ways in which family members relate to and affect each other.

Question 7

MRI therapists view all problems as fundamentally:

Accepted Answer

MRI therapists focus on systemic issues, meaning they see problems as rooted in the systems or relationships in which individuals operate, rather than being purely biological, psychological, or individual in nature.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is TRUE about MRI systemic therapy's theory of health?

Accepted Answer

MRI systemic therapy posits that there is no single, predetermined definition of "healthy family functioning," recognizing the diversity and complexity of family systems. It focuses on the interaction patterns within the family rather than the presence or absence of symptoms in defining health.

Question 9

The general flow of MRI systemic therapy is as follows:

Accepted Answer

The MRI systemic therapy approach involves assessing the interactional sequence and meanings, interrupting the sequence, evaluating the outcome, and then interrupting the new pattern if necessary to create change.

Question 10

A therapist states, "'My son is always defiant' is not a well-defined problem. A preferred problem description is, 'When I ask my son to do something, he refuses, and when I push further he starts yelling and cursing. That's when I give in.'" The MRI systemic therapist is trying to do what in regard to setting goals for therapy?

Accepted Answer

The therapist is aiming to concretely define the problem by specifying the behaviors and circumstances instead of using vague or general terms. This helps in understanding the specific issues to be addressed in therapy.

Question 11

Maneuverability refers to:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Maneuverability refers to:
...

Question 12

MRI therapists focus on viewing the presenting problem as a part of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

MRI therapists, particularly those from the Mental Research Institute, focus on the interactional sequence of behaviors that emerge through repeated exchanges within a system, rather than viewing problems as solely residing within an individual or as a static element of relationships. They emphasize patterns of behavior between individuals in a system.

Question 13

According to MRI systemic therapists, what type of change is necessary for problems in families to be resolved?

Accepted Answer

MRI systemic therapists believe that second-order change is necessary for resolving problems in families. This type of change involves altering the underlying structure and patterns of interaction within the family system, rather than just making superficial or temporary adjustments.

Question 14

In response to a mother's report that her daughter's no longer bringing her tea in the morning must mean that her daughter does not love her, the therapist says: "Your daughter's bringing you tea fewer times a week may mean she is building friendships with girls her own age, which could be a sign she is making progress toward her goal of becoming more independent." What is the term to describe this?

Accepted Answer

The therapist is reframing the situation by offering a different perspective on the daughter's behavior, suggesting a positive development rather than a lack of love.

Question 15

When a couple is arguing about how to discipline a defiant child, the therapist will not focus on solving the problem with the child but rather will focus on how the parents communicate. This example represents which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The therapist focusing on how the parents communicate rather than directly solving the problem with the child is an example of detecting the interaction pattern. This approach aims to understand and address the underlying dynamics of how family members interact with each other, which can influence the behavior of the child.

Question 16

Which of the following most accurately reflects how MRI systemic therapists target change in therapy?

Accepted Answer

MRI systemic therapists focus on changing the patterns of interaction within a family system, which can involve creating new ways of interacting (a new "game" or "dance") without the symptoms that brought them into therapy, achieving a more functional family homeostasis, and developing new sets of interaction patterns. All these options reflect aspects of the change process in MRI systemic therapy.

Question 17

The interactional pattern is traced through four general phases. Which of the following is NOT one of the phases?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The interactional pattern is traced through four...

Question 18

When an MRI systemic therapist (a) explores the behaviors and interactions when an anxious client feels "okay" or normal; (b) identifies the behaviors, contexts, and relational interactions when the anxiety starts to rise; (c) specifies what the client does when she feels the anxiety at its height and how others respond; and (d) traces the behaviors and interactions until she feels "okay" or back to normal again, this is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

This approach is about identifying the interaction patterns that contribute to the client's anxiety. By exploring behaviors and interactions across different phases of the client's experience, the therapist is mapping out how these patterns contribute to the problem and how they change when the problem is not present. This is a key aspect of MRI systemic therapy, which focuses on understanding and altering the interaction patterns within a system (such as a family or a couple) that maintain a problem.

Question 19

If parents always respond to a child's defiant behavior with some form of lecture and verbal punishment, an MRI systemic therapist would categorize this as what type of solution?

Accepted Answer

In MRI systemic therapy, when a response is repeated over time without effectively resolving the issue, it is considered "more of the same." This approach suggests that continuing the same strategy, which has not worked in the past, is unlikely to produce different results.

Question 20

MRI systemic therapists conceptualize symptoms of individuals within the larger network of their family and social systems. MRI systemic therapists take a __________ stance toward all members of the family.

Accepted Answer

MRI systemic therapists adopt a nonblaming and nonpathologizing stance, viewing symptoms in the context of family and social systems without attributing blame or pathology to individuals.

Quiz 4: Systemic and Strategic Therapies