FAML 360 Exam1 Questions and
Answers
Reductionism - Answer-any organization entity is comprised of smaller parts and the entity can be
understood by reducing it to its smallest part.
interaction - Answer-the interplay between family members
reciprocity - Answer-both parties influence each other as they interact with each other.
roles - Answer-a character or function one plays
explicit rules - Answer-rules that are said and defined.
implicit rules - Answer-the "unsaid" rules. (everyone knows them, but no one's ever said it's actually a
rule)
wholeness - Answer-individuals and elements make up a whole unit that is GREATER than the sum of its
parts.
, No element within the system can ever be understood in isolation since it never functions
independently.
boundaries - Answer-the lines of demarcation that indicate who is "in" or "out" of the system.
They can be physical or symbolic.
Boundary permeability - Answer-ability to enter or exit the system
degree to which the system is open or closed.
Boundary abmiguity - Answer-uncertainty about who is in and who is out of the system.
Very common in times of transition.
heirarchies - Answer-one up/one down - superior/inferior
Captain makes decisions and the first mate carries them out.
Change vs Stability - Answer-Family systems are stable in their chaos and orderly in their disorder.
families are predictable in general and unpredictable in detail.
Families WANT to maintain stability, whether it's healthy or not.
Homeostasis - Answer-the tendency of a system to return to a state of equilibrium
This is counteracted in the need for change in a living system (or the natural state of change in a living
system)
entropy - Answer-the natural tendency of systems to dissipate.
negentropy - Answer-requires change (addition of energy to system) to occur in order for the system to
continue to exist.
Answers
Reductionism - Answer-any organization entity is comprised of smaller parts and the entity can be
understood by reducing it to its smallest part.
interaction - Answer-the interplay between family members
reciprocity - Answer-both parties influence each other as they interact with each other.
roles - Answer-a character or function one plays
explicit rules - Answer-rules that are said and defined.
implicit rules - Answer-the "unsaid" rules. (everyone knows them, but no one's ever said it's actually a
rule)
wholeness - Answer-individuals and elements make up a whole unit that is GREATER than the sum of its
parts.
, No element within the system can ever be understood in isolation since it never functions
independently.
boundaries - Answer-the lines of demarcation that indicate who is "in" or "out" of the system.
They can be physical or symbolic.
Boundary permeability - Answer-ability to enter or exit the system
degree to which the system is open or closed.
Boundary abmiguity - Answer-uncertainty about who is in and who is out of the system.
Very common in times of transition.
heirarchies - Answer-one up/one down - superior/inferior
Captain makes decisions and the first mate carries them out.
Change vs Stability - Answer-Family systems are stable in their chaos and orderly in their disorder.
families are predictable in general and unpredictable in detail.
Families WANT to maintain stability, whether it's healthy or not.
Homeostasis - Answer-the tendency of a system to return to a state of equilibrium
This is counteracted in the need for change in a living system (or the natural state of change in a living
system)
entropy - Answer-the natural tendency of systems to dissipate.
negentropy - Answer-requires change (addition of energy to system) to occur in order for the system to
continue to exist.
