Understanding that Strongest Bond in Life: The Family

Family is a basic social unit of a society which is most beneficial to upbringing and nurture of children. The Tasmanian Family Institute adopted definition of the family as: "A family is a unit of people connected by natural genealogical links (most basically consisting of a father, mother and their children), or in a means which morally and legally replicates these natural genealogical links, such as through adoption." A genealogical basis to family is necessary and it is referred as blood relation by Australian bureau of statistics (Corbett, 2004, p4). Within this ideal genealogical link between parents and Children, the latter are raised by their parents. However, it is not always so as many times the state removes children from their biological parents viz. in cases of drug abuse, violence etc. In such cases, the children should be raised in households that give family environment. The family originates after voluntary union between a man and a woman known as marriage. But currently the meaning of marriage may undergo a possible change to legally accommodate same sex marriages. Here the marriage may be defined as voluntary union for life between two people while excluding others (Corbett, 2004).The arguments of alternative family definition is picking up heat in view of, particularly, same sex marriages. But probably every grouping cannot be taken as a family.

Family Theory:

System's theory and family was conceived by Bartalanffy and later developed by Murray Bowen (Bomar, 2003, p100). The system is composed of many interacting elements and is distinct from the environment in which it is present. It is a concept taken from biological and physical sciences. Open system exchanges energy from surrounding, while a closed system is isolated from surroundings. A system tries to remain in steady state or maintains homeostasis. Similarly, the family has members who are interconnected and interdependent. When there is change in the wellness of one family member entire family is affected (O'Brien et al, 2007). Just as the system is closed or open, the family has hierarchies and relationships such as mother-child; family-community etc. Family also has to maintain stability and is affected by stresses arising within and outside of the system. It is always more effective to apply open system concept to one's family as free exchanges of thoughts and ideas reduce stressors giving rise to happier families.

Sources:

Bomar, Perri J 2003, Promoting health in families: applying family research and theory to

Nursing practice, 3d ed., Elsevier Health Sciences

Corbett, A 2004, What is a Family?: and why it Matters: Achieving a Workable Definition,

Tasmanian Family Institute.

O'Brien, P, Kennedy, WZ & Ballard, KA 2007, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: An

Introduction to Theory and Practice. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.