1. Introduction
2. Organization of the Course
3. Systemic Approaches to Human Behavior
4. Bioecological Model
5. Contexts
6. Influence
7. Family Life Cycle Model
8. Approach
9. Jay Haley
10. Why look at transitions?
11. Life Events Precipitate Change
12. Two Types of Family Changes
13. Dysfunctional Families
14. Stressors on Family System
15. Six Stages of Predictable Family Changes
16. Thought Questions
17. Timing and Dysfunction in This Systems Model
18. Lesson 1A Assignments

Lesson 1: Introduction Part A. A Systems Approach to Human Behavior

Goals
This lesson will introduce the frameworks the course uses which is a systems approach to human behavior and how psychological science may play a role in change.

It will use two examples of such frameworks - one that focuses on systems and human development (Bronfenbrenner's ecological model or as he has renamed it bio ecological model, and then one that focuses on the family as an "organism" and its development over the life course, Carter and McGoldricks's Family Life Cycle Model.

The former comes out of developmental psychology and the latter has roots in social work, a more applied field, but one that over its history has been more "conscious" of the context in which humans live. (see figures below)

Figure 1: Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model or as he has renamed it Bio Ecological Model

Figures are taken from: Carter, E. A. & McGoldrick, M. (1988). Overview: The changing family life cycle: A framework for family therapy. In E. A. Carter & M. McGoldrick (Eds.), The changing family life cycle (pp. 3-28). New York: Gardner.

Figure 2: Carter and McGoldricks's Family Life Cycle Model