Genograms: Family Coping Mechanisms
Emotional triangles are one example of the interpersonal dynamics that develop within ordinary, everyday families. The implications of the triangle dynamic in the family are in a normal functioning family good genographic coping mechanisms that create healthy interpersonal communication and yet as with many other things more than enough is to much as repeated and long term reliance on triangle dynamics, or the involvement of a third party to elicit communications and resolve conflicts within the family can also damage the family. Triangles: A very important principle in the use of genograms is the fact that triangles between three family members often represent the attempt of two members to maintain either closeness or distance. When tension exists between two family members, a natural recourse is to involve a third person to help stabilize this relationship. In the short-term, this tendency to triangulate is a frequen
However, if this pattern of involving a third party in order to negotiate a relationship becomes a part of the regular family functioning over a longer period of time then it is seen as symptomatic or unhealthy. One tactic that has been commonly utilized by the therapist to demonstrate and attempt to illuminate the concerns that can be caused by family triangles is illustrated here by a description of a Bowen technique. t occurrence and appears to be a part of normal family functioning. In addition, during triadic interaction, the marital dyad affects the child and the child affects the marital dyad ( Margolin, 1981). In terms of his method of treatment, Bowen aims to give people a clearer perspective on the family triangles in which they participate and are sometimes caught. 36)During such treatment a family might learn to recognize the implications of this genogramic communication style, within the context of everyday life and within the context of the future each member has as both an independent individual and as a member of a healthy family. 78) If such triadic communication becomes cemented in the family dynamic, even as the child grows such conflict resolution will seem normal to the child and he or she may have a difficult time with future establishment of healthy family communication, especially with regard to establishing an appropriate voice in conflict, later in life. ("Background and Family Systems Theory website at: http://genogram. studies comparing dyadic parent -- child interaction with parent -- parent -- child triadic interaction have found that one parent's behavior toward the child is influenced by the presence of the other parent ( Gjerde, 1986; Margolin, 1981). Such a pattern will cause a family system to become more rigid in its way of functioning and will cause problems when the family system is required to adapt or transition to a new life cycle. Thus, observation of the triad provides important information regarding what a child may experience during marital conflict.
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