Running head: FAMILY THEORY 1

Family Theory

Jervonne Johnson

Theoretical Frameworks in Nursing

Dr. Lori Silao

November 1, 2017
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Moana and her family live on the Polynesian island of Montunui. Her family includes her

father, Tui, her mother, Sina, and her paternal grandmother, Tala. Tui is the chief of the people

of Montunui. His mission in life is to prepare Moana to lead the people of the island and to

protect her and his people from the dangers that lie beyond the reef. Sina is the mediator of the

family. While she understands her daughter’s desire to explore the oceans she also wants to keep

Moana protected. Tala was the self-proclaimed crazy lady of the village before her passing. She

loved the ocean like Moana and wants her people to return to their roots as ocean explorers. And

Moana is the daughter of Tui and Sina, caught in an identity crisis. She has to decide between

staying on the island to become the leader of the people, and saving the island by finding the

demi-god Maui who is stuck on a deserted island across the dangerous sea. This paper will

further discuss the structure and function of this family, as well as a family theory this family

closely identifies with.

Structure

Families can be classified into a category of structure based on their organizational

patterns or compositions (Rowe-Kaakinen, Steele, & Padgett-Coehlo, 2014).. This structure can

also be modified gradually over time throughout the family life cycle due to changes in their

relationships with one another and death (Rowe-Kaakinen, Steele, & Padgett-Coehlo, 2014).

From the time of her birth, Moana’s family structure was the extended family type.

According to Rowe-Kaakinen, Steele, and Padgett-Coehlo (2014), the extended family type is

composed of a husband, wife, children, and blood relatives. Later on in Moana’s life, due to the

death of her grandmother, the structure regressed to the nuclear family, which consists of the

husband, wife, and children (Rowe-Kaakinen, Steele, & Padgett-Coehlo, 2014).

Function
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The function of the family deals with what they do for one another (Rowe-Kaakinen,

Steele, & Padgett-Coehlo, 2014). Possible functions of a family may include reproduction,

affective, economic, and socialization.

Moana’s father is determined to deter her from wanting to explore the waters beyond the

reef and condition her for her future role as chief of the island. Tui also guides her through a rite

of passage, which for them is having Moana place her stone on top of the mountain just as her

father and all the previous chiefs. This parallels with the socialization function of a family

because he is trying to help her fit into their island society.

Family Theory

Family theory is abstract thought used to make sense of family interactions (Rowe-

Kaakinen, Steele, & Padgett-Coehlo, 2014). Systems theory is a family theory defined as “The

focus is on the circular interactions among members of family systems, which result in

functional or dysfunctional outcomes” (Rowe-Kaakinen, Steele, & Padgett-Coehlo, 2014, p. 67).

Moana’s family and entire village embody the definition of systems theory because

everyone has their place in the society which keeps them thriving. Moana’s family are the heads

of the village that keep everyone together and solve the problems of the village as a whole. And

within the family, they all keep each other in check. Moana is adventurous, her father is the stern

figure that keeps her grounded and safe, her mother keeps the peace between her and her father,

and the grandmother was the one who picked her up whenever her father made her feel down.

Conclusion

Moana’s family started out as an extended family that was very functional, happy, and

loving. And upon the addition of stress to their lives, including the death of her grandmother

reducing them to the nuclear family category, the impending destruction of their island home,
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and her identity crisis, they remained a supportive family unit that worked together and pushed

each other to greatness.

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Reference

Rowe-Kaakinen, J., Steele, R., & Padgett-Coehlo, D. (2014). Family Health Care Nursing :

Theory, Practice, and Research. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

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Possible Your Comments

Points Points
Scholarly Family Assessment Paper

1.Briefly introduce family & basic elements of assessment. Include family form & 3
membership—i.e., who is in the family you are discussing, brief background

2.One type of Family Structure discussion 2

3.One type of Family Function discussion 2
4.ONE family theory (Include explanation of theory components and application 10
to this family)

List theory used here Systems Theory

5. Conclusion 2

6. Diagrams (3): Genogram, Ecomap, Attachment Diagram—must be labeled 3

with any necessary key

Text Mechanics

7.Citations and References 3

8.Mechanics/Format/Level 1 headings/Overall impression 2

9.Grammar/Form/Spelling/Punctuation/Flow/Readability 3
10.Grading Criteria (minus 5 pts if not included) -

Total Points for Family Theory Project—Paper Component 30