Understanding first and second order change; Although it is a key concept for strategic family therapy, it can be applied to all therapy modalities in that many theorists believe that for lasting change to occur, it needs to be a second order change. Don't think of first order change as a bad thing though as it has its place and is necessary at times. So what's the difference?
First-order change occurs when change does not alter the family system’s fundamental rules. It may temporarily relieve symptoms, but symptomatic behavior recurs because the change has not caused a permanent alteration in the system. In contrast, second-order change involves altering fundamental rules to create new perspectives and behaviors and, consequently, results in a permanent change in the family system. Therapy is aimed primarily at promoting second-order change.
Examples include:
A good student starts acting out at school...
First order change: Creating a behavior chart at school to reward the student when they make good choices.
Second order change: Finding the underlying reasons for the change in behavior and including the parents in the intervention process to understand if any changes have occurred at home (a new sibling, a divorce, etc)
A father with an alcohol problem...
First order change: Getting services and treatment for the father and referring him to AA for support.
Second order change: Meeting with the family to understand the role that alcohol played in the family, exploring the patterns in the family that supported these actions, etc.
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First and second order change can be confusing for many including myself. What are some examples that you can share with us to help us deepen our understanding. A question related to this topic will be posted later this week. In the meantime, share your examples in the comments!