Deck 2: The Fundamental Concepts of Family Therapy

Question 1

Which is not a concept of von Bertalanffy's general systems theory?

A) "black box" metaphor
B) a system is more than the sum of its parts
C) equifinality
D) homeostatic reactivity

Answer 1

"black box" metaphor

Question 2

A biological model of living systems as whole entities which maintain themselves through continuous input and output from the environment, developed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy is known as

A) systems theory
B) cybernetics
C) constructivism
D) general systems theory

Answer 2

general systems theory

Question 3

The stages of a family's life from separation from one's parents to marriage, having children, growing older, retirement, and finally death, are known as the

A) family structure
B) homeostasis
C) function of the system
D) family life cycle

Answer 3

family life cycle

Question 4

Which phenomena are not a focus of cybernetics, as applied to families?

A) sequences of interaction
B) family hierarchy
C) family rules
D) negative feedback

Question 5

Constructivism first found its way into psychotherapy in the work of

A) Paul Watzlawick
B) Kenneth Gergen
C) George Kelly
D) Michael White

Question 6

A balanced steady state of equilibrium is known as

A) metacommunication
B) homeostasis
C) morphogenesis
D) equifinality

Question 7

The study of control processes in systems, particularly the analysis of the flow of information in closed systems, is known as

A) functional analysis of behavior
B) cybernetics
C) existentialism
D) general systems theory

Question 8

Narrative therapy differs from solution-focused therapy in being more focused on ________ than ________.

A) exceptions; problems
B) cognitions; interactions
C) attitudes; behavior
D) individuals; families

Question 9

With the exception of the feminist critique, what has been largely missing in family therapy has been an examination of

A) cultural biases
B) the society we are helping people fit into
C) value systems
D) all of these choices

Question 10

General systems theory, cybernetics, and social constructionism are ________ concepts.

A) epistemological
B) metapsychological
C) clinical
D) metaphysical

Question 11

The greatest conceptual influence on the early development of family therapy was

A) the family life cycle
B) constructivism
C) feminism
D) systems theory

Question 12

The concept of the family life cycle was introduced to the field by

A) Salvador Minuchin
B) Betty Carter and Monica McGoldrick
C) Jay Haley
D) Don Jackson

Question 13

The notions of complementarity, structuralism, and general systems theory are all embraced by which family theory?

A) behavioral family therapy
B) experiential family therapy
C) communications family therapy
D) structural family therapy

Question 14

Boundaries around the executive subsystem in the family are of particular importance because the family ________ is seen by structural therapists as crucial to the family's well-being.

A) network
B) hierarchy
C) life cycle
D) quid pro quo

Question 15

Why should a family's ethnic background be considered in assessment?

Question 16

List the stages of the family life cycle (Carter & McGoldrick, 1999) and describe the primary task(s) of each stage. Consider how the therapist would intervene with the family at each of these stages.

Question 17

List and describe at least three contextual influences on the evolution of family therapy.

Question 18

What are positive and negative feedback and how do they operate in families?

Question 19

Listed below are a number of concepts and methods that have endured and continue to shape the field of family therapy. Choose any three and describe them. How can each concept be used to enrich our understanding of families and guide our treatment interventions?
a) importance of family context
b) triadic models
c) family structure
d) psychopathology serving a function in families
e) circular sequences of interaction
f) family life cycle
g) multigenerational patterns

Question 20

How can general systems theory revitalize family therapy and bridge the chasm between the narrative approaches of the twenty-first century and the traditional schools (i.e., structural, Bowenian, communications, and/or strategic) of family therapy?