Open vs. Closed Systems

1. Open vs. Closed Systems • All living systems are open to some extent, no system is entirely closed. • A healthy system is one that has a balance between open and closed. • System Boundaries vary in permeability from relatively open to relatively closed.

2. Boundaries • Invisible and artificial constructs that delineate individuals and subsystems and define the amount and type of contact allowable between members of a group or family. • Permeable and Ambiguous • Help us know what is in and what is out, where the margins and edges are. • Are inferred by the repeating patterns of behaviour in a given system.

3. Boundaries… • Imply rules or preferred relationships between subsystems in a family or group • A systems rules are what distinguish it from other system rules, and therefore set the boundaries of that system. • Imply a notion of hierarchy within a system or subsystem (consider the hierarchy in your own family) • Imply some (more or less) a notion of confinement

4. Virginia Satir • Mother of Family Systems Theory • Mother of Family Therapy • Challenged the male establishment • Significant work on family communication styles, self esteem, family sculpting, boundaries, and their effect on peoples life development

5. Virginia Satir (1972) • Permeability of a system relies on: • Self esteem of members • Family flexibility to deal with emerging problems • Uses of power and authority • Family openness to change (evolve) • Communication style: direct, indirect, incongruent • Family rules that are covert (secretive) or inhumane

6. Permeable and Clear Boundaries • Imply engagement are predictable • Firm yet flexible • Consistent yet changeable (evolving) • Are open, not secretive • Having meaning, intent, purpose, reason • Age appropriate

7. Permeable and Clear Boundaries • Members are nurtured and supported in understanding and working with the boundaries that exist • Members are given some degree of autonomy - developmentally increasing. • Some freedom to experiment and test the boundaries, or push them without repercussion

8. Rigid Boundaries • Imply disengagement, are not predictable • Inflexible, unreasonable, “cold” • Under-responsibility, blocking warmth, ability to self think. • Isololating, rigid boundaries often belong to systems that attempt to be autonomous and segregated • Likely delayed social development • Members attempt to seek support and nurturance elsewhere (handle it yourself, don’t bother me)

9. Ambiguous (blurred) Boundaries • Enmeshment, polar opposite of rigid • Everyone is into everyone’s business • Over responsibility • Providing support when not needed, blocking autonomy • Parents are too accessible, too much negotiation and accommodation • Cost to child is loss of experimentation, autonomy, independence, • Delayed emotional development • Conflict on how to cope and manage problems

10. Family Sculpting • Satir • Past, present and future impacts of family systems and boundary rules on a persons life • Way of viewing the dynamics and interactions between system members • Means of stepping out of system you are in, to understand more about it