SIGNATURE ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE

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Introduction 

This outline is a predecessor of the main signature assignment. It describes the Internal Family System and its main principles. The same model will be discussed further in detail in the main paper and will be used to analyze the Madea’s Big Happy Family movie. 

Concept of the Internal Family System (IFS) model. 

Riskin (2013), discusses that the Schwartz developed IFS model conceptualizes the mind as a two component entity where the two entities interact to form a system. The two entities are personality and self. During internal conflict, Riskin (2013) discloses that the IFS model can help us to gain insights and awareness to such internal conflicts (processes). The results are three concepts. First, understanding internal conflicts (processes) and how they are intertwined to external conflicts, second is to assess such processes and lastly is how to manage the processes and maybe to improve both the internal and external processes so as to achieve less internal anguish and at the same time a more suitable external conflict-associated behavior. 

Riskin (2013) goes ahead to illustrate the IFS model in detail by explaining his illustration of the interaction of internal and external forces during family conflict in sections. The first section of Riskin’s discussion focuses on the internal negotiation and how different ideas can fit in the IFS model to resolve conflicts. The second section considers the concept of multiplicity which is described as an understanding of self, mind (psyche), and personality. Section three discusses the Luxor carriage negotiation which entails the understanding, assessment and improvement of the negotiation process through the use of established and approved ideas related to conflict resolution. The fourth section is aimed at combining conflict resolution and the IFS model and shows how the combination can improve and bring a fresh way of understanding, assessing and improving negotiation and conflict resolution. Lastly, the fifth section describes how the integrated approach can be made useful in the enhancing conflict resolution processes in other contexts. 

Critique of the internal family system model

The IFS’s ability in dealing with shame

The protocol of the Internal Family System is developed in a way that makes better use of the psychic multiplicity while making use of the internal compassion. It has been describes an s treatment for managing shame and enabling facilitating adaptive guilt. Sweezy (2011) describes a successful application of the IFS model in treatment of a suicidal patient to the extent of these suicidal urges receding. The IFS model on this case for laid emphasis on self-compassion. The case of Angie provided illustrations on the need for disentangling guilt from shame and its importance. 

The patient (Angie), whom the IFS protocol had been administered had faced trauma through a troubled childhood. Through the application of IFS, the therapist discovered that the patient had protective part that accused her of being a lazy slut. She also possessed exiled parts that took up this abuse and trauma as shame and despair. The protector parts of the patient pushed her to suicide as a way of escaping the shame, made her disgusted, as well as gave thoughts of killing all who had hurt her (Sweezy 2011).

Sweezy observed that the case of Angie was an indication of how adaptive guilt maybe held hostage to shame as seen where the teenage girl had guilty feelings that told her that she had done wrong. She was unable to act on them as she had pervasive and threatening shame. The IFS protocol proved of essence in helping the patient challenge her shame but also validate her guilt. The prescription of the IFS on self-compassion helped Angie deal with shame that was ‘eating” her up, to the point of almost committing suicide.

Adoption of the IFS model in an Indian perspective

The IFS helps in understanding the role of self as it relates to the transformation of the internalized oppression and ancestral burden as may be implicated in the Indian Indigenous circle. The IFS offers open-ended methods of accessing internal and external knowledge and gaining relational reciprocity in the balance in the languages of the distributed learning communities and IKR (McVicker 2014). McVicker observed a striking resemblance between the IKR in the Indian country and the IFS in terms of values, methodologies and worldviews (2014).

Through this article there similarities on the IFS with the Indian views and values are explored and brought to light. The article further r relates how the parts as described in the IFS are perceived with regard to self on a culture to culture basis. More insight will be gained in the determining how the IFS matches with the healing norms that involve kinship systems with equal respect for all life forms. It can also be observed how the Indian perspective relates to the IFS unburdening process that aims at transforming, harmonizing and creating a balance on human interiority. The IFS model would also be important in the Indian country in setting the ground for liberating dialogue in individuals to strike a balance between indigenous and western psychologies and viewpoints (McVicker, 2014)

References

McVicker, S. (2014). Internal Family Systems (IFS) in Indian Country: Perspectives and Practice on Harmony and Balance. Journal of Indigenous Research.

Riskin, L. L. (2013). Managing inner and outer conflict: Selves, subpersonalities, and internal family systems. Subpersonalities, and Internal Family Systems, 18, 1-69.

Sweezy, M. (2011). The Teenager’s Confession: Regulating Shame in Internal Family Systems Therapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 179-188.