Family Systems

Family systems theory seeks to understand human functioning in terms of the interactions between people in a family system. How systems operate and how a system impacts the functioning of its members is the focus of systems theory, a field which shaped the thinking of early family therapists. A family systems perspective provides a framework that leads to significantly different conclusions about the etiology of behavioral and emotional symptoms and their treatment. This article reviews the intellectual foundations of family systems approaches and summarizes enduring family systems concepts and techniques.