n this assignment, we will explore ways to understand the family unit using visual aids—specifically, the family diagram and the ecomap. The family diagram focuses on interactions and relationships among family members within an identified family unit, while the ecomap views the family within a broader social context (like a neighborhood, a community, or organizations within the community such as the school system and workplaces). Although these visual aids focus on different aspects of the family, the underlying principle is the same: they are visual representations of the family system.
Clinicians working with families may use either one or both, depending on the situation. For example, a clinician may construct a family diagram for a family that is struggling with communication to identify existing patterns within the family system. A clinician might construct an ecomap if a family seems to be struggling with external challenges, such as problems within the neighborhood or school. In some cases, both aids may be useful.
Note: Remember to review the requirements for your final project before you begin each assignment. As you begin each assignment, consider how the research and thinking you do might contribute to your work in the final project.
Assignment Instructions
Review the Designing an Ecomap and Designing a Family Diagram media pieces. Develop a family diagram or an ecomap of your own family system or a fictional family system. Explain how your choice of visual aid (family diagram or ecomap) relates to the issue being studied within the family.
Apply symbols to represent either the communication patterns among family members (for a family diagram), or the relationship between a family and larger social systems (for an ecomap):
Identify major strengths and supports of the family system.
Identify stressors impacting the family system.
There are several options for constructing your family diagram or ecomap. You could use graphics in MS Word, Visio, or PowerPoint. Refer to the tutorials linked in Resources if you need assistance with MS Office. You could also draw it by hand and scan it; your final must be in an acceptable digital format so you can upload it with your assignment.
Recommended assignment outline:
Identify family members.
Discuss family situation.
Explain how the family diagram or ecomap is a visual representation of the family and its situation.
Assignment Objectives
Your assignment should fulfill the following objectives:
Create a family diagram or an ecomap of a family system.
Identify the strengths and weaknesses in a family system.
Apply symbols to represent either the communication patterns among family members (for a family diagram), or the relationship between a family and larger social systems (for an ecomap).
Explain how your chosen visual aid (family diagram or ecomap) relates to the issue being studied within the family.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the psychological professions.
