If you’ve ever taken a PREPARE/Enrich assessment, here is some 

information why it is significant….. Rob and Cathie

What are the Couple and Family Maps?

The couple and family maps are derived from Dr. David Olson’s research on the Circumplex Model. The maps
chart how each partner perceives closeness and flexibility in their couple
relationship and their family of origin.

• Closeness is defined
  as the emotional bonding that couples and family members have toward one
  another
• Flexibility is the
  amount of change in leadership, role relationships, and relationship
  rules

The map is a 5×5 grid, consisting of balanced (white),
mid-range (light blue), and unbalanced (dark blue) squares. When a couple
answers the questions about the flexibility and closeness in their
relationship and family of origin, they are plotted on the grid. It is normal for individuals,
couples, and families to move throughout the map over time as they go through
life stages and/or face life stressors.

Why are the maps important?

These maps give you, the Facilitator, a look into how a couple
viewed their family growing up and compares it to how they view their couple
relationship now. This is important as individuals often tend to recreate or
reject the type of family system they grew up in. You might have couples talk
about what they want to repeat in their relationship and what they’d like to
do differently. In doing so, they may become more aware of how their
upbringing affects the patterns of their own relationship. 

Balance is key to a healthy relationship. 

Couples and families that fall within the balanced range (the
nine white squares in the middle) are considered the most functional and
healthy. As stated before, couples will move throughout the map over time, so
by receiving insight on where they fall on the map and why, they may be able
to anticipate how their relationship might change during different life
stages and events and prepare for them accordingly. Examples might include
increasing communication after the birth of a child, or being intentional
about spending quality time together when kids are older and the family is
pulled in many different directions. If the couple finds themselves in an
unbalanced range, it’s helpful to acknowledge that it is normal and often
temporary. You can use exercises from the Workbook for Couples to help the
couple take steps toward more balance.

How the maps apply to parenting styles

If a couple you are working with is interested in
understanding their parenting styles, have them take the PREPARE/ENRICH Parenting assessment.
This assessment goes in depth on the parenting styles of each individual in
the relationship. Their parenting style will get plotted on the Circumplex
Model, similar to the Couple and Family Maps, and show how flexible and
cohesive their parenting styles are.

There are five different parenting styles included on the map:

• Balanced
  style: This style has a healthy level of
  parenting closeness and flexibility. Sometimes referred to in
  literature as “democratic” or “autocratic,” this
  style tends to be most healthy because there is a balance of
  age-appropriate child autonomy and parental control. Independence is
  encouraged and discipline is consistent and fair. Parenting is warm and
  nurturing without being overindulgent. Discipline tends to be consistent
  and fair. According to research, this parenting style is related to the
  best outcomes for children and teens.
• Permissive
  style: This
  parenting style allows the child/teen a lot of freedom and choice.
  Parents may have a hard time saying “no,” establishing and
  enforcing rules, and creating boundaries. Also called
  “indulgent” parenting, this style is characterized by high
  responsiveness to a child’s needs and high emotional connection. 
• Overbearing
  style: Often
  referred to in literature as “authoritarian”. This style is
  typically demanding, with high levels of control and high levels of
  responsiveness and closeness. An “overbearing” parent is
  highly connected to their child/teen and also has high expectations for
  them to conform and comply with their rules, guidance, and
  direction. 
• Strict
  style: This parenting style is characterized by
  predictability, order, and rules that allow little room for negotiation.
  Discipline tends to be firm. Unlike the “overbearing” style,
  however, emotional connection is low. 
• Uninvolved
  style: This
  parenting style allows the child/teen a lot of freedom and choice and
  few (or poorly-enforced) rules and boundaries, but lacks the emotional
  responsiveness characterized by the “permissive” style. This
  style is characterized by low emotional connection with few demands
  placed on the child.