Family Communication Collage CMS 332

1. The Von Trapp
Family
Communication
Collage
CMS 332
Spring 2012
Tanya Iverson

2. Family Communication Evolution
The Von Trapp Family’s
transition through multiple
family types represents a
common pattern in which a two
parent biological family became
a single parent family, then
evolves to a blended family with
Maria as a stepmother.
“Overtime, families change as they
pass through stages of growth;
members are born, age, leave, and die,
and the communication patterns
impact and reflect these developments
in family life.”(26)

3. Cohesion as a Single Parent Family
Captain Baron Von Trapp -widowed ex-naval officer
who is disengaged from his family and maintains
extreme separateness and independence from his
children by hiring governess’s to nurture. Whereas
he viewed his specific role function in the family as
that of a provider of basic resources and discipline.
The Von Trapp Children-Liesl-16, Fredrik-
14, Louisa-13, Kurt-12, Brigitta-10,Marta-7,
Gretl-5
Enmeshed- Family members experience
extreme closeness, loyalty, and dependence
and almost no individuality. (Olson,
Defrain, & Skogard, 2008)(31)
Frau Schmidt -Housekeeper: “The Von Trapp children don't play. They march.”

4. Flexibility as a Single Parent Family
Rigid- Family members experience very
low levels of change, as well as
authoritative leadership and strict roles
& rules (32)
“
“Rules serve as generative mechanism capable of creating regularity where non exists”(83)
Captain runs his family like he was
still aboard a ship and a commander
rather than his private home and a
Father, for example dressing them in
sailor suit uniforms, calling them by
whistle, and issuing orders. This
combats the change of caregivers.
Captain: The first rule of this household is discipline.

5. You are the twelfth governess to look after my children since their mother died. I trust you will be an improvement on the last one. She stayed only two hours."
Von Trapp Family Boundary’s
The new governess, Frauline
Marie, a young women who is
considering the sisterhood
arrives from Salzburg Abbey.
Captain: You are the twelfth governess
to look after my children since their
mother died. I trust you will be an
improvement on the last one. She stayed
only two hours…. Oh, there's nothing
wrong with the children. Only the
governesses.”
External boundaries establishes
the level of family connection
between family members and the
outside world.(42)
.
Closed boundaries resist the flow of people from the external environment

6. Orchestration/ Implementation of Power
Before Maria, the family didn’t question the Captain’s orchestration of power
conveyed by the whistle or the implementation of this communication method by the
governesses.
Captain von Trapp: Now, when I want
you, this is what you will hear. [blows
whistle]
Maria: Oh, no, sir. I'm sorry, sir. I could
never answer to a whistle. Whistles are for
dogs and cats and other animals, but not
for children and definitely not for me. It
would be too... humiliating.
Captain von Trapp: Hmm. [starts
walking away. Maria blows her whistle &
he turns around]
Maria: Excuse me, sir. I don't know your
signal
“Negotiation can result in mutually acceptable compromises on power issues.”(184)

7. Power- Cognitive Resources
As family members exert power or respond to others’ power moves, the family
system recalibrates itself. Even Children exercise power since it “is a interactive
quality of adults and Children.”(Socha & Yingling, 2010, pg.93)
Maria: I'd like to thank you all for the
precious gift you left in my pocket today.
Captain von Trapp: What gift?
Maria: It's meant to be a secret between
the children and me.
Captain von Trapp: Then I suggest you
keep it, and let us eat.
Maria: Knowing how nervous I must
have been, a stranger in a new household,
knowing how important it was for me to
feel accepted, it was so kind and
thoughtful of you to make my first
moments here so warm and happy and
pleasant.
Maria utilized the cognitive resource of shame to regain power after the kid ‘s prank.

8. Essential Secrets
Maria’s choice to keep the frog in her pocket prank a secret
between her and the children helped to create trust bond and
allowed the boundary to become permeable.
Essential secrets, which support necessary boundaries defining a
relationship, may included talking about fear or insecurities,
which enhances closeness and fosters development of self and
relationships. (89)
Liesl: Are you going to tell on me?
Maria: Liesl, were you out walking all
by yourself? If we wash that dress
tonight, nobody would notice it
tomorrow. You could put this on. Take
your dress and put it to soak in the
bathtub. Come back here and sit on the
bed, and we'll have a talk.
Liesl: I told you today I didn't need a
governess. Well, maybe I do.

9. Role Appropriation
“Family members negotiate their mutual expectations of another, acquire role
identification, and make an emotional investment .”(151)
----- Role Enactment
Role expectation
Interactive behavior that
defines the role itself.
Maria grows to love the
children in an effort to
make them happy.
-----Role Negotiation
Maria: Dear Father, Managing interpersonal
now I know why You conflicts while members
sent me here. To help work out their roles.
these children prepare
for a new mother. And I -----Role Conflict
pray this will become a The Baroness (Captains
happy family. future wife) and Maria
Maria’s Specific Role Functions- Providing nurturing and emotional support

10. Relational Rule Negotiation
“Rules maybe recalibrated explicitly and implicitly..rules may be openly
negotiated or changed as a result of various factors, such as a members
dissatisfaction.” (85)
Captain von Trapp: Fraulein
Maria, did I or did I not say that
bedtime is to be strictly observed in
this household?
Maria: Yes, well the children were
scared of the thunderstorm and...
You did, sir.
Captain von Trapp: And do you
or do you not have trouble following
these simple instructions?
Maria: Only during thunderstorms,
sir.
Relational rules pattern - Maria will challenge the Captain for the good of the children.

11. Conflict
Maria: Children can't do all the things they're
supposed to if they have to worry about spoiling
their precious clothes.
Captain : They haven't complained yet.
Maria: Well, they wouldn't dare! They love you
too much. They *fear* you too much!
Conflicts that result in Captain: I don't wish you to discuss my children
in this manner.
discussion and
Maria: Well, you've got to hear from someone!
compromise can often You're never home long enough to know them.
lead to positive
Captain: I said I don't want to hear anymore from
change(Coleman, Fine, you about my children!
Gangong, Downs, & Maria: I know you don't, but you've got to! Oh,
Pauk, 2001 (212) please, Captain, love them! Love them all!
Maria verbalized the children’s need for love which brought awareness.

12. Family Rituals
“Rituals convey a variety of meanings and messages in an emotionally powerful
patterns; they remind members who they are, how much they care about each
other… These special meanings enacted in repetitive form, contribute significantly
to the establishment and preservation of a family’s identity.”(113)
Maria shared music with the children
as a way to communicate love to
them and for them to share their
need for love and acceptance from
the Captain.
Through this medium the Captain
regained and unlocked feelings he
had been guarding since his wife's
death. Singing became a family
ritual. They became the Von Trapp
Family Singers

13. Intimacy
Knowing information about another family member is not sufficient to develop
intimacy. Relational growth depends on meaningful communication about that
knowledge(Duck, Miell, & miell, 1984).(128)
Constitutive Rules have transitioned from affection not displayed to
physical expressions whereas the relational currency of touch often
conveys feelings that a family member may not be able to put into words
.

14. Marker Event
Commitment implies intense singular energy directed toward
sustaining a relationship…Personal devotion- ones internal devotion
to relationships.(129)
The Marriage solidified a life change & the creation of a new blended family.

15. The Von Trapp Family Transition
The Von Trapp Single Parent Family- The Von Trapp Blended Family-Open
Closed families tend to regulate Family, boundaries tend to remain
predictability with fixed boundaries. flexible when members are encouraged
Such families interact less with the to seek experiences in the outside space
outside world. They require members and to return to the family with ideas
to fulfill their needs and spend their the family may use if group consensus
time and energies within the develops. (175)
family.(175)
A distinct evolution in communication resulted in a cohesive and flexible family unit

16. Galvin, Kathleen M., Carma Lee. Bylund, and Bernard J. Brommel. Family Communication: Cohesion and Change. Boston: Pearson Allyn and Bacon, 2012. Print.
Sources
Images: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/the-sound-of-
music/images/4271501/title/sound-music-screencap
Movie Quotes :http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059742/
Galvin, Kathleen M., Carma Lee. Bylund, and Bernard
J. Brommel. Family Communication: Cohesion and
Change. Boston: Pearson Allyn and Bacon, 2012. Print.