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.
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 next week. In the meantime, share your examples in the comments!