Problem
Textbook: Marriages And Families: Intimacy, Diversity, And Strengths by David H. Olson, John DeFrain and Linda Skogrand, Seventh Edition.
Use the Couple and Family Scales (found in Table 3.6 on page 101 of your text) to describe your family of origin. Select a time period when you were all together (e.g., when you were in grade school/high school). Make a list of the people you are including in your family. Then complete the following:
I. Review the six categories shown in the scales (Table 3.6) for assessing cohesion, flexibility, and communication.
II. On a separate piece of paper, rate your family on a scale of 1 to 8 for each of the categories in the three dimensions.
III. To determine a total score for each dimension, review the scores and select a number that represents the best average score. Record the score below, and indicate the level for each dimension (e.g., for cohesion, enter disengaged, connected, cohesive, or enmeshed).
Cohesion Flexibility Communication
Score: _____ Score: ______ Score: ______
Level: ______ Level: _______ Level: _______
IV. Now, plot the scores for cohesion and flexibility onto the Couple and Family Map (see page 98 of your text) and identify the type of family system in which you grew up.
V. After plotting your scores onto the model, write and submit for grading your replies to the following questions:
i. What is/was it like to live in your type of family (e.g., flexibly connected, rigidly enmeshed, etc.)?
ii. In what ways related to cohesion and flexibility is/was your family satisfying and in what ways is/was it frustrating?
iii. How did your family change on cohesion and flexibility as you were growing up?
iv. In what ways did communication affect your family's dynamics?