Outline and assess the contribution of the social psychoanalytic perspective to the study of family relationships

Rooted in how family is defined argon precepts about what is considered a mixer norm, or acceptable behaviour. It tells people whats perceive as a family and what is non. Within the discussion family atomic number 18 unmarried inherited fond, diachronic and ethnical values. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a family as the servants of a put forward, or the syndicate or everyone who lives in a house or under one inquiry and finally as a assort of persons consisting of the invokes and their children, whether actually living together or not. The family takes and tilts as the alliance in which we live careens.Does the traditional, heterosexual family soundless exist as the norm? in that respect has been a decline in marriage, ex lam in cohabitation and children born into single p atomic number 18nt families. There has also been an increase in divorce, incline of compound families and recognition of alike(p) sex relationships, marriages and p benting. The multipli city in human relationships sack ups it problematic for psychologists to define family or picture patterns of behaviour. Individual-society dualism refers to one of the interrogative write ups in affable psychological science.The challenge of how privates and society ar associated is twain complex b arly also majusculely contr oversial, as it forms the basis of many semipolitical thinking, values and viewpoints and the formation of mixer policies. handed-down psychological theories and research into the social structure of families in the main(prenominal)(prenominal) focussinged on the realm of instructional psychological science. Much research centred on m some other(a)-child interactions with fewer studies of father-child interactions (OBrien 2005). Traditional research centred on the shortcomings and problems within the family structure, such(prenominal) as incest and eating disorders (Cawson et al., 2000) and looks for origins of breakdowns amongst me mbers of the family.Traditional research viewed the individuals as existence remove from society and unaffected by it or as over socialised beings and as such was found to be constrictive in its use. Families and turn up individual(prenominal) relationships contact us a vital example through which we come to make good sense of ourselves and the world (Helen Lucey 2007 pg 66 cited in sociable Psychology Matters). From birth the family generally is the main source of influence in the emergence of physical, social and emotional well being and as such is worthy of that research and debate.Recent views such as the sprawling and psychoanalytical perspective soak up at rest(p) a step further to overhear key of both individual and society and looks at how the individual is influenced by as well as from society such as culture and family history (Lucey, 2007 r separately University, DVD 1). For the purpose of this essay the main focus will be on the dynamics of family re lationships providing a critical military rank of surmisal and research into close relationships specifically cognate relationships to demonstrate these complexities from a psychoanalytic point of view.The concept that our actions and interactions are comparatively the creation of unreasonable and unconscious(p) processes tackles previous psychological ideologies about qualities greens to humanity. The volume of theories on families, as well as social policies and practices suppose that people are influenced by sound motives that they ordinarily bop what their behaviours are and motives for them and have power over their lives.In comparison psychoanalysis and the more modern social psychoanalytical theories or perspectives paint a picture that conscious thought only scratches the rebel and is in the domain of extensive unconscious processes, by which the mass of our internalised self lives within, that addresses this touch sensation of an unconscious tool effective in t urn backling unconscious anxiety, known as splitting, protuberance and projective identification. The psychoanalytic perspective do-nothing be viewed as responding to the subscribe to of a more holistic explanation of families and development of self. Previously blood relations were marginalised.When we look and Freuds theory for example they were only noticed in negative scenarios, murderous rivalry and jealousy. The focus would be on the evolving of individual subjectiveness and the psyche and now psychoanalytic theorists are beginning to view siblings as internalised individuals in childrens lives (Lucey 2007) Some of the approaches fundamentals tend to overlap with approaches such as straggling and phenomenological perspectives, entirely differentiates from these crops of thought in psychological science and theories of social sciences by its underlying notions of a powerful subjective conscious and unconscious.As a resolving, research into the family from a social psych oanalytic approach may well authorize the individual-society dualism. In direct opposite to the logical approach the psychoanalytical approach views the family structure/makeup as changeable and influenced by society, parents, individuals and culture. Peoples behaviours are not viewed as existing in closing off or as separate entities, but essential be viewed as neighborhood of and within the wider heathenish economic and social world, which influences, effects and use ups individuals behaviours and as a result has different outcomes for relationships.Lucey 2007 argues that siblings are unique individuals who have in common their genetic makeup and share a majority of social aspects with each other and as such could entrust a window into the fundamentals of close relationships. The psychoanalytic approach takes the stance that older siblings are just as important in the development of self as the parents. Siblings evolve into role manakins (ego- bringing close togetherls) in which they establish their superego from perceive behaviours (Mitchell 2003).Societys social order dictates an individuals option which is cl previous(predicate) attest in Edward and Luceys 2006 research which followed tail fin Bangladeshi sisters living in the coupled Kingdom. Azra who is the eldest sibling is clearly shown to be regarded as a role model to her younger sisters and an example of how they should behave and the choices they should make in terms of how they live their lives in order to obtain the respect and bankers acceptance within the cultural community to which they belong.The theme of individual-society dualism is displayed as the girls in the research have autonomy to make specific choices in their lives. However this is within the constraints of the Muslim cultural structures. Habiba the second eldest feels pressured to study life-threatening to achieve the success expected and vitiate letting her sister down. The unconscious introjection and projection o f Azras perceived purity, goodness and conforming behaviour. Azras persona acted as a guide for the sisters behaviour and accomplishments.The notion of her reproof or displeasure in their failure in anyway is evidently important and ensues in splitting, dividing the good from the bad, and the agreeable and un-agreeable. The individual-society dualism is reflective in the girls social surround and the relation between culture, community and social factors. Sabina, the third eldest sister doesnt view herself as an individual but refers to her reputation as a family. Her personal identity is viewed as the family as a whole.Asian cultures like theirs are guided by ethical and moral principles within the close knit communities they live with strict cultural values and seek approval from each other and as such the need to achieve acceptance is very great (Heinnink 1999). It is clear that the five sisters choices are restricted by the unconscious self and social influences. The girls howe ver do take an operative role in the creating of their identity on an individual level, as family and as members of their community.There is an assumed existence of defences such as projection to help descend any anxieties or conflict experient Thomas Ogden (1982). In the social psychoanalytic approach anxiety is viewed as essential and normal and core to the evolvement of an individuals personality (Freud 1936). It is important to note the idea of agency and how much choice an individual exerts and how much is governed by the structures, themes and cultures to which individuals belong within society.For example during an individuals school years they have no control over which school they attend this is governed by societal structures and parental choice to a limited degree and friends are usually chosen from the class the individual is connected to, referred to as propinquity effect (Bersheid and Reis 1988). then proximity, teacher and school dictate which group you will bel ong and therefore choice of friendships formed. So how much is based on individual choice and how much is hardened by the society, group psychic processes.However the propinquity effect doesnt fully formulate about interpersonal attraction or why we take friends and other factors must influence our choice such as culture, values and interests for example. Further research is inevitable to highlight features of close relationships. The social psychoanalytic perspectives in the study of families and research into sibling relationships put forward a practicable means of comprehending family dynamics and the implications of individual as agency and the influence of social forces such as attachments, race, culture and social and how these forces precondition the family and relationships within it.The psychoanalytic research into siblings highlights how the national psyche and social life are intertwined, and how the older sibling can become part of critical inner express that sib lings will use as a measure for their own desire and impulses (Lucey DD307 Guide). In conclusion therefore the writer is attached to support and agree with the psychoanalytical perspective and accept that it is important to take account of a multitude of interacting factors such as individual, historical, cultural and social contributions to the study of the family.Close relationships are formed as a result of the individual as well as social world to which they belong. The problems in the explanation of the family highlights the need for a more sleep together understanding linking theories in social psychology and possibly sociological social psychology which studies societal processes and individuals within the culture and structures in which they live and psychological social psychology which addresses the role of the family and child development during early socialisation.If social psychology is to effect change in political thinking and social policies which are important es pecially in the field of social work if on the job(p) practices are to change, further research needs to be undertaken, due to the fact that sibling relationships are the longest lasting that the majority of individuals will experience. Longitudinal studies into sibling relationships could provide further information into how family dynamics change over time, providing possible models of studying other forms of close relationships.