The following is an excerpt from:
Mapping of Rules (MOR)
A Paper-and-Pencil Family Assessment Instrument
by Frederick R. Ford, M.D.
INTRODUCTION
In 1969 Ford and Herrick (1974, 1982) began a project to design an instrument for the purpose of giving families feedback about their organization and function. The idea was similar to that for the well baby clinic: as a way to assess present function and change over time. There were many outcomes of this work; one of these was the discovery of some common patterns of interaction and behavior. As more was observed and known about family interaction it became apparent that certain families clustered together and had, at least grossly, similar structures. In order to communicate this information between ourselves and to others we separated and named five resonant groups. When these groups were named they became a typology of families.
The resonant groups were essentially divided along the lines of the rules that governed their capabilities and function. Thus our five clusters appeared to be governed by five distinct sets of rules. And, although it wasn't known at the time, the names given to each of the groupings were themselves larger family rules. (1974, p. 62.) A short hop from there, over a long period of time, led to the design of a paper and pencil family assessment instrument based on the recognition of the rules governing each system as viewed by individual family members.
The five family systems identified and named for their larger governing rules are:
Using these five rules/names for the defined systems as well as the subsumed smaller rules became the basis of the family assessment instrument called the Mapping of Rules or MOR (Ford, Doyle, Skelton, 1994).
Designed as a family checkup, the MOR performs that function very well. It is equally
useful with individuals, couples and families, and with other social organizations,
such as the work place. Further the MOR is very versatile. We have employed it
in a variety of situations, including: as a baseline for beginning individual, couple
or family therapy, for appraising progress in therapy and as a psychometric tool
with patients in psychotherapy. It has been utilized as a research tool and as a
vehicle for teaching family therapy. Colleagues in general medicine have reported its usefulness
in screening new patients. We look forward to a time when the MOR will be used outside
the professional arena as a self assessment instrument.
REFERENCES
Ford, F. R., & Herrick, J. (1974). Family rules: Family life styles. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 44, 61-69.
Ford, F. R., & Herrick, J. (1984). A typology of families: Five family systems. Australian Journal of Family Therapy, 3, 71-81.
Ford, F. R., Doyle, M., & Skelton, J. (1994). MORSENSE, Theory and Interpretation of Mapping of Rules (MOR). Unpublished manuscript.
© 1997 Frederick R. Ford