How can we represent in a clear and compelling way the dynamics of relationships within marriage and families?

DescriptionHow can we represent in a clear and compelling way the dynamics of relationships within marriage and families? The Couple and Family Map is one especially useful model for this purpose (Olson, 2003). The Couple and Family Map (otherwise known in the field of family research as the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems) was developed by David Olson and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota. It serves to identify the key characteristic of any given relationship in terms of cohesion, flexibility, and communication. You will use the apply the model in order to map the way in which a family interacts, that is, to describe the family system within a family of your choice. The Couple and Family Map identifies 16 types of couple and family relationships – download it here: Circumplex Couple and Family Map.Preview the documentFor a full description of the Circumplex: Couple & Family Map by Olson, please review the following article – https://www.uwagec.org/eruralfamilies/ERFLibrary/Readings/CircumplexModelOfMaritalAndFamilySystems.pdf (Links to an external site.)The logic is quite simple: The dimensions of cohesion and flexibility are broken down into four levels each, and 4×4=16. The 16 types of family relationships can be clustered into three general types of family systems: balanced families, mid-range families, and unbalanced families.Source CitationOlson, D. H. (1999). Empirical approaches to family assessment: Circumplex model of marital and family systems. Journal of Family Therapy. Retrieved from http://www.uwagec.org/eruralfamilies/ERFLibrary/Readings/CircumplexModelOfMaritalAndFamilySystems.pdf (Links to an external site.)Additional resource on cohesion and a flexibilityChapter 2 of the Family Communication book (Please note: There is an editing error in the textbook. When you select Chapter 3 it will link you to Chapter 2: Framework for Family Communication).Galvin, K.M., Braithwaite, D.O., & Bylund, C.L. (2015). Family communication: Cohesion and change (9th ed). Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Retrieved from https://www.book2look.com/embed/9781317347743 (Links to an external site.)Interview etiquetteAlways ask for permission from the person you wish to interview.Explain to them why you must conduct an interview and what the interview will be about.Be polite and respectful of the interviewee!!!If the interviewee feels uncomfortable answering any question, they have the right to not answer it.Always thank the person you interviewed for his/her time and cooperation.DirectionsNote: There are special instructions for turning in this assignment. Please read the instructions for turning in this assignment at the bottom of the page very carefully! Give the person you interview the HD/W St 204 Interview Notification Form (you do not need to turn this in).Preview the documentStep OneChoose a person to conduct an interview with. This person should be either: – from a different ethnic/cultural heritage, – or is much older/younger than you are, – or of a different sexual orientation from your own. This person must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a member of your family. Begin your assignment with the following statement with the appropriate information filled inOn ___________________ I met with ______________________________ and delivered the “H D/W St 204 Interview Notification Form.” After reading the form, s/he agreed to let me ask the assigned questions.THE ABOVE CONSENT STATEMENT IS A REQUIRED PART OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT. NO CONSENT, NO CREDIT, NO KIDDING! Step TwoThrough the following semi-structured interview, you will evaluate the family interactions in terms of their family cohesion, family flexibility, and family communication. You do not actually focus any questions on the communication component, simply observe their communication style during the interview.Ask your interviewee the following questions for assessing family cohesion and flexibility, try to get more than a yes/no response: Questions for Assessing Family Cohesion:Separateness/togetherness? How much do your family members go their own way versus spending time with the family?Balance Do family members have a good balance of time apart and together?Closeness Do people feel close to each other in your family?Loyalty Is the family a top priority compared with work or friends?Activities Do people spend much time having fun together?Dependence/independence Do family members stay in close contact with each other? Additional questions to assess family cohesion: – How does your family celebrate birthdays and holidays? – Describe your typical dinnertime meal in terms of who is present, who prepares the meal, who cleans up, and the type of family interact that occurs. – What is a typical weekend like in your family? – Do you have special times when you get together as a family? – How important was family heritage?Questions for Assessing Family FlexibilityLeadership Is leadership shared between parents?Discipline Is (was) discipline strict?Negotiation How do you negotiate differences in your family?Roles Does each spouse only perform certain tasks?Rules Do rules change in your family or stay the same?Change Is change upsetting to your family? Additional questions to assess family flexibility – How open is your family to change? – Is your family good at problem solving? – Does your family seem disorganized? – Who is in charge – the parent(s) or the child(ren)?Step ThreeAfter the interview, rate the family on each of the concepts that make up the three dimensions of the map (use the Couple and Family Scales below). Before selecting a value, read the descriptions for each concept and then select a value from 1 to 8 that most closely represents the family as a unit. Obviously there is no right or wrong answer here, it is very subjective to the responses from the interview you conducted.COUPLE AND FAMILY SCALESPreview the documentStep Four Answer the following questions in a 5-6 page paper:(a) Plot the family in one of the 16 family types on the Couple and Family Map. (b) Describe why you placed them in that category. You will need to integrate the information gleaned from your interview as to why you believe they belong in this category. You will need to discuss all the 11 concepts from the interview – Please bold and number each term as you use it: (Separateness/togetherness, Balance, Closeness, Loyalty, Activities, Dependence/Independence, Leadership, Discipline, Negotiation, Roles, Rules). (c) Provide examples from your interview to justify your ratings on the 3 scales.Which of the three scales: cohesion, flexibility, and communication was the family’s greatest strength? Which scale is their weakness? Provide examples.Describe 3 pros and 3 cons you discovered using the Couple and Family Map (these are not pros and cons the family possesses, these should be 6 things you learned about the Map)?For example: One pro I experienced was that the map was laid out in a way that makes it easy to understand with the colors and sections to compare the different types of families…..One con of the Couple and Family Map (Olson, 1999) was that the communication concept did not have a part of the visual pieces of the map, nor were there specific questions designed for that part of the model.What are the applications for family therapists and counselors for helping families by using this tool? You will need to incorporate the ideas presented in Olson’s Couple and Family Map article.(a) What 3 suggestions or pieces of advice would you give this family (even if they scored high on the map, there is always room for improvement)? You will need to integrate concepts from your required readings from Unit 2 into your suggestions for improvements for the family.(b) If they were in the balanced range what attributed to this? If they were NOT in the balanced range what attributed to this?You will need to cite in APA style throughout your paper and include a reference page in APA style with at least 2 citations (Olson’s work and the textbooks). Remember to use proper hanging indents.Example PaperPreview the documentEvaluation CriteriaInclude the CONSENT STATEMENT filled in.Summary of the interview (do not need to include your full answers to each interview question).Include the scores from the three scalesAnswers to questions in step four (this is “meat” of your term paper).APA — You will be required to cite Olson’s work and the textbook throughout your paper and in a reference page.You must cite your sources in a reference page in APA style (make sure to use hanging indents).This assignment should be the equivalent of 5-6 typed pages (1-inch margins, double-spaced, 12 pt font, Arial or similar font.)Plot the family in one of the 16 family types on the Couple and Family Map. Describe why you placed them in that category. Must include all 11 concepts from the cohesion and flexibility scales in your answer.15 pointsIn terms of cohesion, flexibility, and communication which scale is the family’s greatest strength? Which element is their weakness? Provide examples.10 pointsWhat are the 3 pros and 3 cons you found by using the Couple and Family Map?5 pointsWhat are the applications for family therapists, counselors or family members for helping families?5 pointsWhat 3 pieces of advice would you give this family? If they were in the balanced range what attributed to this? If they were NOT in the balanced range what attributed to this? You must cite the research for each piece of advice.10 pointsAPA style throughout your paper and in the reference page.5 pointsTotal50 pointsPlagiarism Check: By submitting this paper, you agree: (1) that you are submitting your paper to be used and stored as part of the Unicheck, and (2) that your institution may use your paper in accordance with your institution’s policies.