Theories of Family Therapy

Comparison 1: Role of the Unconscious

The "Role of the Unconscious" dimension in Goldenberg and Goldenberg's (1991) frame of reference, refers to the extent to which a particular theory of marriage and family therapy emphasizes unconscious forces or processes as being involved in the production of dysfunctional family functioning. Of the three theoretical views selected for analyses (behavioral, psychodynamic, experimental/humanistic), the one which most strongly attributes dysfunctional family interaction to unconscious forces is the psychodynamic theory of marriage and family therapy.

Indeed, the psychodynamic theory holds that unresolved past conflicts (usually childhood conflicts with parents or significant others) have been suppressed from awareness but that these conflicts nonetheless influence current function. It is as if instead of reacting to the true members of one'

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respond to one another, etc.) into behavior that facilitates appropriate and satisfying family functioning. While the behavioral theory of family therapy focuses on externals such as behavior, and the family environment in which it occurs, the psychodynamic theory of family therapy focuses on internals. It's treatment goals are to facilitate family members' awareness of the buried past conflicts leading to problematic and dysfunctional family interaction. The assumption here is that insight into these conflicts will reduce and/or eliminate patterns of dysfunctional family interaction. The experimental/humanistic theory of family therapy also has internal goals as its desired treatment outcomes. The objectives of this approach to family therapy are such internals as personal growth of family members, more functional and personally satisfying ways of relating to others. The experimental/humanistic approach also seeks to improve communication among family members so that they are more honest and disclosing of their feelings. The primary way that the experimental/humanistic theory can be distinguished from the psychodynamic theory of family therapy is in terms of their different views as to what produces successful treatmen
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