Clinical Rating Scale and Developing Circumplex Model

Clinical rating scales and the Circumplex Model of Marriage and Family Systems are both tools that can be used in clinical settings to assess and improve family functioning.

Clinical rating scales are standardized measures that assess specific aspects of family functioning, such as communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills. These scales can provide valuable information to clinicians and researchers about the strengths and weaknesses of a family’s functioning, and can help guide interventions aimed at improving family dynamics.

Clinical Rating Scales Components

Clinical rating scales are standardized measures that assess specific aspects of family functioning. The components assessed by clinical rating scales may vary depending on the specific scale being used, but some common components include:

1. Communication: This component assesses the quality and frequency of communication within the family. It may include items such as whether family members listen to each other, whether they interrupt each other, and whether they express their emotions effectively.
2. Problem-Solving: This component assesses the family’s ability to identify and solve problems effectively. It may include items such as whether family members work together to solve problems, whether they generate multiple solutions, and whether they evaluate the consequences of different solutions.
3. Role: This component assesses the family’s patterns of role allocation and expectations. It may include items such as whether family members have clearly defined roles and responsibilities, whether there is flexibility in role allocation, and whether roles are distributed fairly.
4. Affective Responsiveness: This component assesses the family’s emotional responsiveness to each other. It may include items such as whether family members are empathetic towards each other’s feelings, whether they express affection towards each other, and whether they are supportive of each other during difficult times.
5. Affective Involvement: This component assesses the degree of emotional closeness and attachment among family members. It may include items such as whether family members express love and affection towards each other, whether they are emotionally involved in each other’s lives, and whether they share emotional experiences.
6. Behavior Control: This component assesses the family’s ability to regulate behavior and maintain boundaries. It may include items such as whether family members respect each other’s privacy, whether there are clear rules and expectations regarding behavior, and whether there are consequences for violating rules.

The Circumplex Model, on the other hand, is a broader framework that assesses family cohesion and flexibility, and provides a comprehensive understanding of the family’s functioning. The model considers both the emotional connectedness between family members (cohesion) and the family’s ability to adapt to change and cope with stressors (flexibility).

Developing the Circumplex Model involved a combination of clinical observation and empirical research. David Olson, the creator of the model, observed patterns in family functioning in his clinical practice and combined these observations with research findings to develop the model.

Clinical rating scales can be useful in developing the Circumplex Model by providing specific information about the family’s functioning within the context of the model. For example, clinical rating scales may be used to assess the family’s communication patterns, which can be a component of the cohesion dimension of the model. Similarly, rating scales can be used to assess the family’s ability to adapt to stressors and change, which is a key aspect of the flexibility dimension of the model.