Психология и психотерапия семьи

Considering all these reactions a general theory («Watershed – theory») generalizing these reaction is suggested. It suggests that after meeting «mental illsituation» a family has to take a sequence of important choices. Every of these choices decides what will be the way for the further development of the family: 1) rather disintegrative one; 2) rather integrative one; or 3) unstable – an unstable balance between integrative and disintegrative forces in the family. It is highly important that the consequent choices in this sequence are interconnected. If a family steps a foot in one direction it increase the necessity to go also next steps in the same direction.

An original program and experience in education and consulting mental ill\'s families is discussed.

The second section deals with rather neglected but in our opinion very important «family self-image» problem. The concept assesses how precise, detailed, full, psychologically true is an image of a family on itself. Functions of the «self – image» in developing family structure, taking everyday and general decision was shown.

The structure, development and functioning, main characteristics of «family self image\'» are considered. Three types of family depending on how much developed is the family «selfimage» are described: family with highly developed reflexive selfimage, families with stereotyped selfimage and families with unreflective primitive self image.

It was shown that a reason for retarding the development of the selfimage in a family can be a psychological resistance stemming of some hidden conflicts. But in fact this is only one of numerous other possible causes. There are also a lot of other handicapping factors – psychological family surrounding, obligationdirected role system within a family lowlevel culture in the family etc.

The family selfimage is shown to be important precondition predisposing a family to very broad spectrum of disturbances in its structure and functioning. The point is that most of family dysfunction described within different streams of family psychotherapy suppose that family is not able to observe itself, recognize some aspects of its life and therefore is defenseless against them. So, such very known family disturbances like «family sequences» (J. Haley), unconscious reinforcement (Azrin, Naster), «doublebind», «triangulation» etc. can persist only under condition of some «family agnosia» (family is not able to notice them). It is shown in this chapter that this «family agnosia» is most typical for families with a rather underdeveloped «self image».

Ways and experience of investigating, diagnosing and development of the family self-image and its therapeutics outcomes are discussed.

Important component of family selfimage are so called «family postulates» (close to «family myths» – Ferreira (1966), Glick @ Kessler (1980)). They are some idea of family members about family life, personality of its members, interrelations that are supposed to be evident. New ways in investigation of these «family postulates» and of their interconnection with family disorders are described.

The third section deals with the family communication. The main idea is that all ample literature of the topic deals only with communication channel: – it is with communication stages that follows after the decision to communicate some message to another family member is taken. Our idea is that the most important stage is what happens before – the «zero – stage» of communication channel, it is the stage when the decision to «send a message» still is not taken. In fact a family member takes this decision by committing some mental experiment in his mind. He 1) has to recognize a situation (a problem) as one which requires to send a message to involved family member (a communication event), 2) tries to image the whole event (how the message will be given by him and accepted by another side), 3) what change in situation and what further consequences it is going to bring.

During this stage the whole event is «rehearsed», the very possibility of it is regarded, the content and ways of communication are shaped. This «zerostage» of communication event is an individual «communication manager», shaping both mutual expectation and ways in which these expectations are precised. So, just on this stage important prerequisites of the success or failure of a communication are laid.

So, we tried to demonstrate prospects of investigating and considering in therapy of these zero – stage processes.

To investigate these processes we have proposed the concept of «communication deficit». It means that considering any family problem we have to answer «the zero – stage question: „What message (if any) sent by one family member to another would have been able to facilitate the solution of the problem?“. After answering this question reasons are regarded for which the very idea of communication does not emerged.