Understanding the Main Theories of Family Dynamics

How can each of the four theories help us make sense of the relationships we have with others?

 

To begin, I would like to define what the general term “theory” can mean. In the simplest terms, it is an attempt to explain why something happens. 

 

Conflict theory- a theory that society is in a state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources. Power/Influence (man having power over the woman or the woman feeling like the man is overpowering) 

• Simplistically, conflict is an interactive process occurring when conscious beings (individuals or groups) have opposing opinions, beliefs obligations, motives, needs, objectives, obligations resources, and/or values. (Chapter 9: Conflict in Relationships – Interpersonal Communication (geneseo.edu)) 
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• According to Psychology Today, “Conflict management strategies based on mutual respect and understanding which foster intimacy and security lead to healthy and enduring relationships. Thus, the type of communication that the parties engage in during disagreements may well have a significant effect on whether conflict management has positive or negative outcomes. “ 

Conflict in Relationships | Psychology Today 

Both positive and negative outcomes may result from conflict management in a relationship.

- Some positive results may be reduced anxiety, increased closeness, and creating a mutual understanding by having an open and respectful discussion…

- Some negative outcomes in proof conflict management could be emotional withdrawal, violence, and less satisfaction in the relationship… 

  

Exchange theory - Keep our costs lower than our rewards in interaction. "You owe me one” is a good example of this. 

• - Individuals will often evaluate the costs and benefits of staying in a relationship. Often, a relationship will 'fall out' if there are too many costs at stake, rather than a benefit or advantage. 
• - An assumption from Tulane University suggests that "Another tenet is the assumption that a person begins an interaction to gain maximum profit with minimal cost — the individual is driven by “what’s in it for me?”  
• - In this reasoning, they also add that the words “pro” and “con” may be swapped out for “risk” and “reward.” 

https://socialwork.tulane.edu/blog/social-exchange-theory/ 

 

Systems theory – Every system has causal boundaries, is influenced by its context, is defined by its structure, function, and role, and is expressed through its relations with other systems. 

Thinks of the family as a system (The whole is greater than the sum of its parts) 

Bullet points from Simply Psychology:

• - Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory views child development as a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment, from immediate settings of family and school to broad cultural values, laws, and customs. 
• - To study a child’s development then, we must look not only at the child and their immediate environment but also at the interaction of the larger environment as well. 
• - Bronfenbrenner divided the person’s environment into five different systems: the microsystem, the ecosystem, the macro system, and the chronosystem. 
• - The microsystem is the most influential level of the ecological systems theory. This is the most immediate environmental setting containing the developing child, such as family and school. 

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory (simplypsychology.org) 

 

Symbolic interaction theory - views humans as cognitive creatures who are influenced and shaped by their interaction experiences – like systems theory – where symbolic interactionists believe that the whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. (Ex: someone smiles and says hi when they see you – they like you). 

According to Blumer (1969) [Taken from Simply Psychology], social interaction thus has four main principles: 

• - Individuals act in reference to the subjective meaning objects have for them. For example, an individual that sees the “object” of the family as being relatively unimportant will make decisions that reemphasize the role of the family in their lives; 
• - Interactions happen in a social and cultural context where objects, people, and situations must be defined and characterized according to individuals’ subjective meanings; 
• - For individuals, meanings originate from interactions with other individuals and with society; 
• - These meanings of an individual have been created and recreated through a process of interpretation that happens whenever that individual interacts with others. 

Symbolic Interactionism Theory & Examples (simplypsychology.org)