The Family Roles

   This week in my family class we discussed the rules and roles of the family. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it reads: “HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”

   

    These paragraphs in the Proclamation outline the roles of mothers and fathers. They are to love their children and teach them well. In the family different systems and patterns emerge. There a four main systems in the family: System Theory, Exchange Theory, Symbolic Interaction, and Conflict Theory. System theory is the theory of the family working to accomplish goals. This theory works best when there are rules and roles. Exchange theory is the theory that focuses on doing something to get something out of it. Symbolic theory focuses on non-verbal communication. The final theory is conflict theory. This theory uses power to gain influence. Each of these theories is effective in one family or another, sometimes more than one theory can work.

   

   An example of systems theory is everyone in the family working together to get somewhere on time. An example of exchange theory could be if you do the dishes this time, you won’t have to do them again for another week. An example of symbolic interaction can be when mom gives “the look.” When we see this look we know to obey whatever, mom says. An example of conflict theory is the older sibling using its power to influence the younger ones. As we have already discussed the family is the most important unit. It is ordained of God.

   

   In the family each member has a role. They have the role of brother, sister, mother, father, and child. Within these roles are a set of rules. These rules determine how the person in their role behaves. Another topic discussed was the relationship of the family, and each individual’s relationship to others in the family. In class we looked at a concept called family mapping. Family mapping is the process of drawing a map of the family, starting with the parents. Once we establish the type of relationship mom and dad have, we can start mapping the relationship of the children to the parents and each other. This concept is very helpful in seeing the dynamics in the family. As we try to understand the roles and rules of the family we can better understand and accomplish the goals Heavenly Father has for each family.