According to Family Systems Theory when boundaries are not healthy, there are six maladaptive survival roles. Select one of these roles and describe its function within the family system and why it may have evolved.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Role of the Scapegoat in Family Systems Theory
Introduction
Family Systems Theory posits that individuals within a family unit interact with and influence one another, creating a complex web of relationships and dynamics. When boundaries within a family are not healthy, individuals may adopt maladaptive survival roles to cope with dysfunction. One such role is the scapegoat. This essay will explore the function of the scapegoat within the family system and discuss the reasons why this role may have evolved.
The Function of the Scapegoat
The scapegoat is often an individual, typically a child or adolescent, who becomes the target for the family’s unresolved conflicts, frustrations, and negative emotions. This role serves several functions within the family system:
1. Diverting Attention: The scapegoat allows the family to divert attention away from deeper issues. By focusing on the scapegoat’s perceived problems or failures, other family members can avoid addressing their own shortcomings or the true sources of conflict.
2. Maintaining Family Cohesion: By having a designated scapegoat, families can create a semblance of unity. This dynamic enables other members to bond over their shared view of the scapegoat as the “problem,” thus reinforcing their own status and roles within the family system.
3. Reinforcing Hierarchies: The scapegoat often occupies a lower status within the family hierarchy, which can reinforce the power dynamics among family members. This role serves to maintain the authority of other members, particularly those who are more functional or adaptive.
4. Providing an Outlet for Emotion: The scapegoat becomes a vessel for the family’s pent-up emotions. Family members may project their anger, disappointment, or frustration onto the scapegoat, allowing them to relieve emotional tension without confronting the root causes of their distress.
Why the Scapegoat Role May Have Evolved
The evolution of the scapegoat role can be traced to several factors that influence family dynamics:
1. Coping Mechanism: In families facing chronic stress or trauma, having a scapegoat can serve as a coping mechanism. It provides an immediate way to externalize blame and manage internal chaos, making it easier for other family members to cope with their own emotional struggles.
2. Cultural Influences: In some cultures, certain behaviors or traits are stigmatized or deemed unacceptable. A child exhibiting these traits may become a scapegoat as a means to uphold cultural norms and expectations, leading to punishment or exclusion from the family unit.
3. Developmental Factors: Children may adopt the scapegoat role as part of their developmental journey, particularly if they perceive themselves as different or less favored compared to their siblings. This role may become ingrained as they seek attention or validation from family members.
4. Protection of the Family Image: Families often prioritize maintaining a positive outward image. By designating one member as the scapegoat, families can shield themselves from scrutiny and avoid confronting uncomfortable truths about their dynamics.
Conclusion
The scapegoat role serves crucial functions within dysfunctional family systems, including diverting attention from deeper issues and maintaining cohesion among members. Its evolution can be attributed to various factors, including coping mechanisms in response to stress, cultural influences, and developmental needs. Understanding this role is essential for recognizing patterns in family dynamics and facilitating healing and change within the family system. Addressing the scapegoat’s experiences and promoting healthier boundaries can lead to improved functioning for all family members.
