Human Behavior & Social Environment Flashcards

Two parents in conflict repeatedly pull their teenage son into their arguments, each seeking his support against the other. Bowen family systems theory calls this:

Answer: Triangulation

Triangulation occurs when a third person is drawn into a two-person conflict to reduce tension.

A family has no privacy between members, the mother answers for her adult daughter, and every member's distress immediately affects all others. In structural family theory, this family is best described as:

Answer: Enmeshed

Minuchin described enmeshed families as having diffuse boundaries and excessive closeness.

Several weeks into a support group, members begin challenging the facilitator and disagreeing openly about group rules. According to Tuckman, the group is in which stage?

Answer: Storming

The storming stage is marked by conflict, resistance, and power struggles before norms are established.

When a family member begins recovering from addiction, other members unconsciously act in ways that pull the family back to its old patterns. This illustrates which systems concept?

Answer: Homeostasis

Homeostasis is a system's tendency to maintain a stable balance, even when that balance is dysfunctional.

A social worker wants to map a client's family across three generations, including patterns of illness, substance use, and relationship quality. Which tool is most appropriate?

Answer: Genogram

A genogram diagrams family members and patterns across multiple generations.

A terminally ill client says, "If I can just live long enough to see my grandson graduate, I'll accept whatever comes after." Which Kübler-Ross stage does this reflect?

Answer: Bargaining

Bargaining involves attempting to negotiate or make deals to postpone loss.

After being criticized by his supervisor, a man comes home and yells at his children over a minor issue. Which defense mechanism is he using?

Answer: Displacement

Displacement redirects feelings from a threatening target to a safer one.