Unit 2Family Dynamics

Goals, Family, Morals, Values, Ethics & Communication

Think about it

•What do you want to be in life?

•Do you have a goal to accomplish before graduating from this school?

•Do you have a goal for the week?

•What about for today?

goals• Personal priorities- the principles, concepts

(ideas), and beliefs that are most important to you.

• They become a part of your personality and affect your behavior.

• You start forming these at a young age and begin with the influence from your family

• Friends, culture, traditions and environment also influence your priorities

• They influence your decisions and change over time based on what’s important to you

Goals

•Your goals are based on your personal priorities

•Long Term Goals– are those that occur some time in the distant future. There is not a set time but usually around 5 years

•Short Term Goals– in order to accomplish a long term goal, you must set short term goals. these will lead to meeting the long term goal.

3 categories of goals

•Interpersonal goals- those that involve relationships with others

•Intrapersonal goals- are personal concerns

•Material goals- are concrete or professional goals

•FAMILY

Family Structure

•Nuclear Family: includes 2 parents and at least 1 child

•Single-Parent Family: 1 parent and at least 1 child

•Blended Families: a single parent marries another person. Stepparent and stepchild come into play

•Extended Families: includes relatives other than a parent or a child who lives with them

•Guardians: take all financial and legal responsibility for raising

•Adoption: a legal process where a child lives with some one other than their biological parents

•Foster Children: a child who lives in a temporary home until a permanent home is found

Family life cycle

•Beginning Stage: separation from parents/adjustment to marriage

•Childbearing Stage: focus on having & raising kids

•Parenting Stage: kids are school age/focus on family & kids around school/activities

Family life cycle

•Launching Stage: Children leave home for college, careers & marriage. Parents refocus on their relationship

•Middle Years Stage: Preparing for retirement. Parents become grandparents

•Aging Stage: Retirement/focus on friendships, hobbies, interest and travel

•MORALS, VALUES &

ETHICS

Morals, Values, Ethics

•Morals: Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character

•Values: The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or preciousness of something: "your support is of great value".

•Ethics: A set of moral principles, esp. ones relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct.

Values are our fundamental beliefs

• They are the principles we use to define that which is right, good and just. Values provide guidance as we determine the right versus the wrong, the good versus the bad. They are our standards.

• Consider the word “evaluate”. When we evaluate something we compare it to a standard. We determine whether it meets that standard or falls short, comes close or far exceeds. To evaluate is to determine the merit of a thing or an action as compared to a standard.

• Typical values include honesty, integrity, compassion, courage, honor, responsibility, patriotism, respect and fairness.

Morals are values which we attribute to a system of beliefs

• These values get their authority from something outside the individual- a higher being or higher authority (e.g. society).

• Many of us find our values are strongly influenced by our sense of morality - right as defined by a higher authority. Yet we refrain from citing that authority because doing so may seem less rational and more emotional to others who do not share our belief system.

• By that definition one could categorize the values listed above (honesty, integrity, compassion …) as “moral values” –

• Others morals are excellence, quality, safety, service, which define some elements of right and good.

Ethics is about our actions and decisions

• When one acts in ways which are consistent with our beliefs (whether secular or derived from a moral authority) we will characterize that as acting ethically. When one’s actions are not congruent with our values - our sense of right, good and just - we will view that as acting unethically.

• Defining what is ethical is not an individual exercise however. If it were then one could have argued that what Hitler did was ethical since his actions conformed to his definition of right, fair and good. The ethics of our decisions and actions is defined societally, not individually.

• If society is dominated by a single religious or cultural belief system, as is the case in some countries, then what is ethical and what is moral may be defined as the same thing. In societies where there is not a monolithic belief system there can be very wide differences in opinion in society as to whether a given action is ethical (or moral).

Difference Between Morals & ethics

•Morals define personal character, while ethics stress a social system in which those morals are applied.

•In other words, ethics point to standards or codes of behavior expected by the group to which the individual belongs.

•COMMUNICATION

Elements needed for communication

1. Message sender – provides the information

2. Message receiver – observes or listens to the information, forms an impression, may offer a response or reaction

3.Understandable message – is essential – communication does not always occur when a message is sent and received

HOW DO PEOPLE COMMUNICATE

Verbal Communication –

• spoken or written words

• tone of Voice

• silence

• written Messages

Nonverbal Communication

• body language

• dress

• grooming

Verbal Communication

Word Choices: words don’t always convey the same meanings. They can be misinterpreted, trigger an emotion or imply expectation.

Tone of Voice: voice tone can be an effective tool. The tone you use conveys the message you want to send.

Silence: even saying nothing conveys a message; bereavement, where no words may be best, excitement, that leaves you speechless, or anger, where you are too angry to speak.

Written Message : when you prepare a written message think about how the appearance will affect the reader

Nonverbal Communication

•Nonverbal messages are sent in visible ways.

•Body Language: using facial expressions and movements of the head, arms, hands and body

•Dress: Clothing communicates a message about the wearer

•Grooming: physical appearance and personal hygiene contribute much to the impression you make.

Learning to Communicate Effectively

• Levels of Communication

1. Small talk: everyday greetings

2. Share facts: describing or telling

3. Shared ideas: suggestions for doing things

4. Sharing emotions: openly voicing your feelings in a frank way

5. Peak Communication: this is the highest level of understanding when communication is honest and mutually fulfilling

Attitudes for Effective Communication

• Basic attitudes essential for successful communication:

1. Sense of responsibility: being a good communicator you must accept responsibility for your own ideas and feelings – “ I-messages”

I messages are free from assumptions, criticisms and speculation

2. Empathy – empathy helps a person set aside personal concerns and assume another’s point of view.

Skills for Effective Communication

• A good communicator knows the importance of a choosing the appropriate time and place for important conversation

• When the time and place are right for a meaningful conversation, do so with straight talk

*say what you need to say simply and honestlyCommunication involves listening .Some people want to do all the talking or spend time

thinking about what to say next.These people have learned not to listen to what

others have to say. This is talking to, rather than with someone.

Skills for Effective Communication cont.

• Leaning to talk with someone means learning to respond to another’s remarks.

• You won’t have to worry about what to say next if you listen and respond what you hear.

• Active Listening: the message receiver hears what is said and supplies nonverbal and verbal reactions.

• Nonverbal responses signals the speaker to continue.

• Feedback: A nod, eye contact, verbal “yes”, or “Okay”

Skills for Effective Communication…cont.

•Paraphrasing : the highest level of feedback is summarizing what has been said.

•By restating the main message the listener can determine whether or not the message received was accurate.

The Power of Communication

•Good communication is a skill.

•Communication is the key to getting along in life.

•Everyone can communicate but not everyone can communicate well.