Family Circumplex Model

The family circumplex model uses the communication methods of a family to measure its adaptability and its cohesion. We start evaluating a family's adaptability by looking at the family's capability to change the structure of its power and changing roles within the family. An example of a role change would be if a child took on the role of a parent due to the parent being unable to care for themselves or the child. There are four styles within the circumplex model, and they are; structured, rigid, chaotic, and flexible. If we were to look at a chaotic family, we would find a family with little or no rules, no real punishments, and the children usually take care of themselves. Rigid families on the other hand will have a very strong and crisp picture of who is in charge, they will have very clear rules, and the family will look to the parents to make important decisions. These two examples are two very extreme models and most families will fall in between the two.

To look at cohesion, we must first observe the emotional relationships between family members and the degree of independence each member of the family has. For example we would look for patterns of communication, how the family views each other and how they treat one another. The family's level of cohesion is classified by enmeshed, connected, separated, and disengaged. A disengaged family would have little or no family secrets and really no family support. The family is not close with one another, they have little interaction with each other, and they don't have any 'family' rituals. On the other hand, a fully enmeshed family would be extremely close knit and share everything with each other. They generally exclude new members to the family, like those that marry in.

To evaluate a family, you must first start by viewing adaptability and cohesion separately. After doing this, you judge them based on where they lie on the scale. Once you have judged the family based on each scale, you then can put the two scales together onto a graph. When you combine the four levels of adaptability and cohesion, you end up with sixteen different combinations of family styles. The reason for measuring a family on a scale is to be able to comprehend why that family acts the way they do. After understanding why families act the way they do, family counselors can help families survive hard times by helping them become better communicators.

The Baxter family, from the ABC's comedy Last Man Standing, consists of Mike and Vanessa, their three daughters, Kristin, the single mother, Mandy, the pretty one, and Eve, the smart and sporty one. The show also includes other extended family members such as; Kristin's son Boyd, Boyd's father Ryan, and lastly Kyle, a character who is not related but spends a lot of time with the family. For having such a nontraditional family, the Baxter's would actually be considered as structurally connected. While the features of the show can be crazy at times and each of the characters are incredibly vibrant the Baxter family is a great illustration of how a crazy atmosphere may look peculiar to some but underneath lies a resilient, compassionate and typical family.

For example, when Mandy comes home and tells her dad that she and her boyfriend were not able to change a tire, Mike decides to ground Mandy until she learns to change a tire and it is clear that dad makes the rules in the family. A structured family tends to be more democratic with likely consequences, and defined family

...