It is difficult to imagine how I might accomplish my dreams without the ability to record, examine, or communicate them. If there is no way to gain a greater understanding of my dreams, then there is little use for them. Only when I can ascribe meaning to my dream can I begin to usefully apply and build upon them. The language of our dreams might aid us if it is better suited to helping us fulfill them.
In social science the most comprehensive language for recording, examining, and communicating phenomena in the family is called systems theory. The basic tenant of systems theory is that a family must be treated as an indivisible system. Each member of the family plays a role that is so interconnected with every other member that attempting to study them separately leaves us with only a partial understanding. A family system is defined by boundaries and rules, which are in turn defined by more or less predictable patterns of interaction. Boundaries describe the relationship between the family and the rest of the world, as well as between subgroups within the family. For example, the parental subgroup [that's mom and dad ; ) ], have a particular relationship that is separated from the children by a certain boundary. Rules within a family are made both verbally and non-verbally. These are created by experiences followed by feedback: a look, a smile, a touch. When mom gives you that look, you know you better quit buggin' your sister or else! (This may be why we expect others to understand how we are feeling or what we mean by a behavior, we get frustrated when someone can't "read our minds", even though we don't think about it that way.)
We practiced defining our own family culture in terms of systems theory; it was interesting. I'm excited to learn more about it!
