Family Dynamics and Theories

 Hello Everyone!

It makes me so happy to come to the end of the week and know that I have the opportunity to share with all of you the things that I have learned from my Family Relations class that I think are interesting and important to know. As always just a friendly reminder that we all have different points of view on many things but we can all learn from each other and maybe who knows share a little bit of the experiences that we have had in the past that have helped us to become who we are.

This week in my class we talked about Family Dynamics and Theories. The first time I hear the topic it came to my mind the different types of families, changes, or developments that a family goes through. Little did I know about family dynamics and that they theories that while I was learning I could pinpoint different moments throughout my life that I had experienced myself some of those theories. In order for you to understand more about theories, they are thoughts or ideas that one has about a certain topic. Family Dynamics has a couple of theories that explain some behaviors or interactions between family members responding to each other's perceptions. In my class this week we talked about four main ones and they are Exchange Theory, Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interaction Theory, and Systems Theory. 

Exchange theory if I could describe it in simple words is when we tend to be involved in relationships that we can get and give out of them. A good example that I can think of would be when we are in a relationship and we feel we are giving more than the other person so we start having the feeling that we are giving more than we are receiving. This theory is based on the that we always try to expect something in return speaking of relationships. The second theory is Conflict Theory, I was given an example that I think it would be useful to understand it. When couples are married and Holidays are approaching and they are trying to decide whether they would like to spend it with her side of the family or his side of the family. So in simpler words, it would be the conflicts that can exist in relationships spoken or unspoken but that both know there are there. Another common conflict would be genders and the stereotypes we have about thinking men can do more things than women that is a good example of conflict theory because we all have different opinions and values that affect one's opinion related to the topic.

The symbolic theory is based that the interactions that people can have could shape or influenced them in one way or another and that the things that happened while the interaction is happening are not because of the person but due to the interaction itself that is existing between them. I think a good example or simpler words to explain this theory would be that the interactions that we have with others can help to develop a bond with someone else and I believe people do play a role in the interaction but are the interaction itself that makes people create a bond and develop better relationships. Last but not least, Systems Theory is more base on family members and how they are not dependent nonetheless they influence each other. 

I know, I know! For many of you, this is a little bit confusing, others should be thinking why is this important to know but the truth is, learning about how families work and how the interactions between members can influence us helps us to somewhat in my personal opinion understand who am I and why I act or do things that I do. I love knowing that families are like a machine in some way. We all play an important part in the machine per se as we do in our families. We all interact with each other in some way or another and if we remove one part or piece of the machine it would not work the same and it is the same with our families. Everyone's role is important and makes a difference in their own families. Please never forget that. You are important and your family is what they are because you are in it you contribute to the essence who your own family is.

If you are still reading this, thank you for taking the time to do it. I appreciate it and hopefully, I get to share with you more insights that I have been learning from my awesome class.

Have an awesome week, make the best out of it!

Nahomy S.