SSW Family Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Bowen Family Systems Theory, 'differentiation of self' refers to which ability?
- Ability to separate intellectual functioning from emotional reactivity while remaining connected to family (Correct answer)
- Ability to physically relocate away from the family of origin
- Ability to cut off communication with toxic family members
- Ability to form peer relationships outside the family system
Correct answer: Ability to separate intellectual functioning from emotional reactivity while remaining connected to family
Differentiation of self is the capacity to maintain a clear sense of identity and reason separately from emotional reactivity while staying emotionally connected to others.
Question 2: A school social worker notices a student assumes responsibility for managing parents' marital conflicts. This is best described as:
- Triangulation
- Parentification (Correct answer)
- Enmeshment
- Scapegoating
Correct answer: Parentification
Parentification occurs when a child takes on adult roles and responsibilities, such as mediating parental conflicts, reversing the normal parent-child hierarchy.
Question 3: Which structural family therapy concept describes invisible rules that organize how family members interact?
- Genogram
- Family subsystems
- Family rules (Correct answer)
- Joining
Correct answer: Family rules
Family rules are implicit or explicit guidelines that govern behavior and communication patterns within the family system.
Question 4: A student's behavior problems began shortly after her parents separated. Which family systems concept best explains viewing this as related to family stress?
- Family projection process
- Identified patient
- Circular causality (Correct answer)
- Emotional cutoff
Correct answer: Circular causality
Circular causality holds that behaviors in a system are mutually influencing rather than following a simple linear cause-effect pattern.
Question 5: When a school social worker uses a genogram with a family, the PRIMARY purpose is to:
- Assess insurance eligibility across generations
- Map multigenerational patterns, relationships, and significant events (Correct answer)
- Document medical diagnoses across family members
- Identify which family member should be the primary client
Correct answer: Map multigenerational patterns, relationships, and significant events
A genogram is a visual mapping tool that depicts family structure, relationships, and patterns across at least three generations.
Question 6: Salvador Minuchin's structural family therapy focuses primarily on:
- Unconscious family loyalties and legacies
- Changing dysfunctional family organizational structures and boundaries (Correct answer)
- Identifying the root cause of symptoms in early childhood
- Exploring each family member's narrative separately
Correct answer: Changing dysfunctional family organizational structures and boundaries
Structural family therapy targets the reorganization of family structure — subsystems, hierarchies, and boundaries — to alleviate presenting problems.
Question 7: In a blended family, conflict arises because the stepparent tries to discipline the children. From a family systems perspective, the FIRST step is to:
- Remove the stepparent from disciplinary decisions entirely
- Assess how family subsystems and boundaries are structured (Correct answer)
- Refer the children individually for behavioral therapy
- Advise the biological parent to take all disciplinary roles
Correct answer: Assess how family subsystems and boundaries are structured
A systems perspective first examines the structural and relational dynamics — such as subsystem boundaries and hierarchy — before intervening.
