Family and Family Relationships as they Shape Occupation

Transcription

1 Family and Family Relationships as they Shape Occupation Suzanne A. Milbourne Child & Family Studies Research Programs, Department of Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University

2 Why should we or why do people study about families? Positivistic philosophy: Explanation or predication Interpretive philosophy: Goal of understanding Critical philosophy: Emancipation or empowerment of oppressed families

3 What is Family?

4 What is a Family Relationship?

5 What is Occupation?

6 So What Guiding Frameworks for thinking about Family and Family Relationships as they Shape Occupation: [View of occupation as choice & decision making] Ecological Framework Symbolic Interaction Framework Exchange Framework

7 Ecological Framework Biological theory that has been applied to social perspective of human development and interaction with the world. Lends it self to thinking about various levels of analysis including: system; setting; and ecology. Most basic concept is adaptation and goodness of fit adaptive fit degree of mutual acceptance between the family and the environment whose interaction combine to form an ecological system.

8 Ecological Framework Application: Acknowledges that families are involved in multiple community (cultural) settings and those community settings provide a multitude of varied experiences which in turn effect individuals in the family and family decision making. May be used as a model for collecting inductive, descriptive data about individual families stories and relate the stories to the context in which the family is positioned.

9 Symbolic Interaction Primarily concerned with how individuals define and experience their world how meanings organize behavior. Meanings are formed by an individuals position in relation to other individuals in addition to their self assessment. Three assumptions: Individuals respond to the action of others based on their own interpretation of what the other person said or did. Role taking is important to assist a person to view the situation from another person s perspective. Meanings and values are the most direct cause of an individual s behavior.

10 Symbolic Interaction Application: Lends itself to qualitative inquiry regarding how families define and experience the process of living. Interactions take place along a family decision making path - examining the interactions leads to charting of family choice & decision making process. Examining the interactions also lends itself to interpretation of meaning which in turn may reveal various indicators of choice making.

11 Exchange Framework Core concept is the notion of Utilitarianism individuals rationally weigh the rewards and costs of behavioral choices. Central focus is on motivation an assumed prerequisite of a person s actions. Behaviors therefore, can be understood if values and interests are understood. Three Assumptions: Prediction and understanding come about by understanding the families motivation Families are motivated by self-interest. Families are rational they have the ability to calculate cost and rewards.

12 Exchange Framework Application: May be used to understand how cultural diversity affects families perceptions at three levels: Cost-benefit; motivation; L & ST costs/benefits

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