Mária Hardy, Pavel Műhlpachr, Terézia Dudášová
The monograph titled “Social Pathologies of the Family” is compiled from scholarly contributions from the namesake international conference, which in February 2011 was successfully organized in Žilina by the Institute of Social Work of Divine Mercy, detached workplace Žilina II., Vysoká škola zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce sv. Alžbety Bratislava, n. o. The Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies Brno also cooperated.
PREFACE
„Quot capitis tot sententiae“ (“So many heads, so many opinions”)
The monograph titled “Social Pathologies of the Family” is compiled from scholarly contributions from the namesake international conference, which in February 2011 was successfully organized in Žilina by the Institute of Social Work of Divine Mercy, detached workplace Žilina II., Vysoká škola zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce sv. Alžbety Bratislava, n. o. The Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies Brno also cooperated.
The topic of the family has for a long time been among very frequent and often controversial themes both in research and on broad academic platforms, as well as in the activities of public administration bodies (the state, regional and local self-government), third-sector organizations, counseling practice, and the media environment. It is a known fact that the family is, from any perspective, always a multidimensional phenomenon.
It should be recalled that continuity in addressing the topic of the family at conferences, seminars, and other events of churches and religious societies had already been established earlier. It is remarkable that exactly in 2011 it is the 30th anniversary of the Bishops’ Synod on the Family, where the general secretary of the synod at that time was Cardinal Jozef Tomko. Cardinal Tomko himself delivered a speech also at the international conference “Family in the Third Millennium” at the beginning of February 2011 in Bratislava.
It is fair to acknowledge that the organizers of the conference in Žilina did not try to determine exactly what should be studied about the family; rather, they gave participants the opportunity to present genuinely diverse approaches. In this way they essentially opened a Pandora’s box of a broad range of pathological phenomena and interrelations that need to be identified at a minimum.
The authors of the individual contributions at the Žilina conference pointed, on one hand, to the results of current research from problematic areas of family life, and on the other hand reflected on the process of negative changes in the status and prospects of the family. The overall contribution of the compiled and edited monograph to the development of professional knowledge is unequivocal.
In closing, I want to express gratitude and appreciation both to the organizers of the publication of this dedicated monograph and to the authors of those scholarly contributions, whose quality allows a broad circle of interested people access to new knowledge.
Jozef Brezák
CONTENTS
1. DEFINITION, POSTMODERNITY, ANOMY, CAREER, FREEDOM
Family - a question of definition and the definition of the problem JAROSLAV MAX KAŠPARŮ
The family as the primary place of humanization of society JOZEF KUTARŇA
Communication as a source of pathology in the family MIROSLAV BARGEL JR., PAVEL MÜHLPACHR
Social pathology or deviance? The appropriateness of using the term and concept of social pathology in social work ANDREJ MÁTEL
Manifestations of anomie in the contemporary Slovak family PETER ONDREJKOVIČ
The importance of correct seeing, viewing and freedom in the family JÁN ŠUVADA, MÁRIA BIELOVÁ, DANIELA GIERTLIOVÁ
Family crisis - children as an obstacle in parents’ self-realization (?) ANNA VEREŠOVÁ
2. SOCIAL POLICY, INTERNATIONAL INTERRELATIONS
Valuing the social role of the family MILAN FULA Demographic crisis and possible solutions MILAN FULA, ANNA BARILLOVÁ The family in the European context VOJTECH TKÁČ
3. LAW, MEDIATION, PROBATION, PSYCHOLOGY, MEDICINE, PREVENTION
Deriving administrative liability as a consequence of aggression in the domestic environment JANA VALLOVÁ
Mediation and the family ERNEST KOVÁČ
Family system and probation (in the process of restorative justice) VLADIMÍR CEHLÁR
Social conditions and their impact on the family TERÉZIA DUDÁŠOVÁ, JUDITA STEMPELOVÁ
Prenatal and perinatal psychology and medicine: a new approach to primary prevention PETER G. FEDOR-FREYBERGH
Modern society and the family crisis FRANTIŠEK HANOBÍK
Swaddling as prevention of socially pathological phenomena KATEŘINA NEUBAUEROVÁ
A firm embrace as a life form KATEŘINA NEUBAUEROVÁ
Free time as a means of preventing pathological manifestations in the family ZUZANA TAKÁČOVÁ
4. ECONOMICS, UNEMPLOYMENT
Social and economic problems of the contemporary family BARBORA DREXLEROVÁ
Unemployment as a socio-economic family problem in contemporary society SLAVOMÍR LACA
5. DON BOSCO - SALESIANS
Preventive system in the upbringing of children in contemporary family life ANNA BARILLOVÁ Use of elements of Don Bosco’s educational system in child-rearing LÝDIA LEŠKOVÁ, MARTA HORŇÁKOVÁ Activities of the Salesians and collaborators in Sabinov and elsewhere to strengthen families FERDINAND KUBÍK Preventive educational system of Don Bosco MILOSLAV JŮZL
6. ASPECTS OF SOCIAL WORK WITH THE FAMILY
Social worker and family in the prevention of social-pathological phenomena YVETA JUŠŠÍKOVÁ Social work with family in the divorce process ANNA DANIŠKOVÁ Family in the Roma community JOZEF FACUNA
7 CHILDREN 7.1 CHILDREN ON THE STREETS
Children on the street as a target group of field social workers VLADIMÍRA ANTOLOVÁ, JOZEF RUSNÁK
Selected causes of children running away to the street in Slovakia MÁRIA HARDY
7.2 INSTITUTIONAL CARE OF CHILDREN
Causes of placing children in diagnostic centers PAVEL BRYNDZÁK, JANA POLÁCHOVÁ
7.3 THE IMPACT OF MEDIA ON PERCEPTION OF THE FAMILY THROUGH CHILDREN’S EYES
Assessing crisis situations in the family by the child alone under the influence of media-presented “models” of family MARKÉTA ŠAUEROVÁ
7.4 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN THE FAMILY
Accompanying the family of a child with a disability MÁRIA ŠMIDOVÁ
7.5 ALCOHOL AND ADDICTIONS IN THE FAMILY
Dependencies and their impact on the family system ĽUBA PAVELOVÁ
Children of alcoholics require an individualized approach MICHAELA ŠAVRNOCHOVÁ
8 ELDER ABUSE IN THE FAMILY
Family background and violence in a person’s life with respect to the abuse of seniors in families JANKA KUFFOVÁ
SUMMARY
The subject of the professional monograph titled “Social Pathologies of the Family” is the socially pathological traits of the modern family that occur in society. That is, it is a map that describes in detail the space in which the social worker is confronted with concrete pathological phenomena and in which they work in practice. While with socially pathological behavior we can say that behavior is pathological as soon as an individual commits it, family pathologies are often phenomena or trends composed of many generally accepted concrete manifestations and ways of behavior, sometimes even valued, and their pathological character becomes obvious only when this behavior has become widely prevalent.
Everyone who deals with the family professionally or non-professionally (therapists, counselors, social and special educators, social workers, and volunteers) establishes a relationship with the family. For these supporting professionals, the relationship to the family is determined primarily by the institutional framework. Families turn to some institutions themselves, though rarely the entire family. Contact with the family is relatively easiest in institutions where assistance is provided to those who are clearly sick or otherwise at risk.
In an advisory, directive mode toward the family, only someone who knows does so. Through his instruction, he takes responsibility for solving family difficulties onto himself. In a therapeutic mode the support professional focuses mainly on family interaction patterns. In a supportive mode the professional does not set strategic goals. They try to compensate for family handicap through direct help (providing information, arranging financial aid, etc.).
Typologies of supportive stances are abstractions. The concrete therapist, counselor, social worker, social or special pedagogue, or volunteer has a mixed stance, in which one mode usually predominates. The development of a family problem and the development of the family also carry with them a development of the stance of the person working with the family.
A family can break apart during contact with a support institution or after it. Intervention can sometimes accelerate a process that would have proceeded more slowly without it or might not have occurred at all. It is not the task of social work with families to keep the family together at any cost. Especially in families with a family member with an addiction problem, family disintegration is a common accompanying feature.
The term functional family is preferred over the term normal family, harmonious family, healthy family, and nonclinical family. Through all these labels, theorists try to name that type of family which forms an indispensable reference point for both researchers and practitioners working with families. Reliable research on functional families is still very limited. Especially those based on methods of direct observation and covering a longer time span are rare. In a time when no binding model of family exists, it is difficult to construct a binding norm. It is necessary to focus on the main functions of the family, the foremost of which is child rearing, followed by meeting the needs of adult family members.
In the inner relations of pathological families, social workers find an atmosphere of mistrust and expectations of unpleasantness. When behavior is interpreted as hostile, these families respond with forceful hostile retaliation or unconditional (often merely pretended) capitulation. The needs and wishes of family members are often received as unacceptable and unjustified and are rejected. In such an atmosphere, no one tolerates hesitation or indecisiveness; both sides demand loyalty. Coalition-building is considered particularly harmful, especially when it crosses generational boundaries (for example, when a parent aligns with a child against the other parent). Despite all required adaptation, repeated appeals and threats, in pathological families roles remain unclear, and the distribution of responsibility among family members is also unclear. Responsibility is, if possible, avoided by everyone, or someone tries to take it all on themselves, yet cannot carry it. Despite proclaimed closeness and mutuality, in these families one finds signs of distance and non-involvement.
In functional families, by contrast, good is expected for good. Family members are considerate toward one another and respect each other. These families are characterized by a firm coalition between parents that no external influence can permanently threaten. In the family there is a clear hierarchy of responsibility. The uniqueness of individuals is evaluated positively. There is balance in the family between intimacy and the need to share. In functional families, everyone speaks for themselves. Speeches are clear, direct, and addressed. Communication is vivid and active. There are many dialogues that flow smoothly from one pair to another. The family is open to new ideas and new solutions to problems. Communication includes a great deal of humor. Social and other realities are interpreted by the family without distortion and are processed under the influence of family traditions that orient the family’s values.
In dysfunctional families that enter professional care because of their problems, there are often conspicuously many negative emotional expressions, from ironic remarks to open and direct attacks. The problem then becomes interdisciplinary and long-term.
Let us hope that this professional scholarly monograph contributes to addressing all the issues presented in the publication and becomes a significant aid not only for social workers.
Editors: PhDr. Mária Hardy, PhD. Prof. PhDr. Pavel Műhlpachr, PhD. PhDr. Terézia Dudášová, PhD.
Reviewers: prof. MUDr. Miloš Velemínsky, CSc. Jihočeská Univerzita v Českých Budejovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta Doc. Ing. Jozef Brezák, PhD. Vysoká škola zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce sv. Alžbety v Bratislave PhDr. Helena Grófová, PhD. Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Katedra sociálnej práce
Publisher: Institut mezioborových studií Bno Place of publication: Brno Edition: prvé Year of publication: 2011 Number of pages: 340 Print run: 400 copies Printing: Krupa print BIZ s.r.o. ISBN 978-80-87182-17-8 EAN 9788087182178