Customer Reviews

Family Interaction: A Multigenerational Developmental Perspective (4th Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first knew of Anderson and Sabatelli's works through the professional journals in family studies and family therapy. I used the instrument "Differentiation in the Family Systems Scale (DIFS)" developed by them in my master's thesis research. Their approach is mostly influenced by Murray Bowen's family system theory. In this text, they again use the Bowenian theory as a grounding framework, combined with structural family theories (i.e. Salvador Minuchin, David Olson's circumplex model..etc.). The authors did an excellent job of integrating existing family science literature. For example, in chapter II--family strategies, they propose six universal strategies families employ to meet developmental tasks during the family life cycle: developing identity, regulating boundary, maintaining resources, managing emotions, and coping with stress. Then, these strategies were used to illustrate family interaction patterns in different family developmental stages throughout the chapters in Part III. The last part disscusses four alternative family developmental pathways. I find the chapter on death, loss, and bereavement is especially insightful. Unfortunately, gay and lesbian relationships were not included here (nor in the "family diversity" chapter). That makes the book somewhat incomplete. However, I find the text is very suitable for introductory family courses, especially for those who prefer psychological approach rather than traditional sociological approach. This book is also recommended for family therapy students as the foundamental knowledge base. Though I left the graduate school few years ago and am a counselor now, I still find some concepts in the book very refreshing and useful for clinical conceptualization. I give this book a very high praise!

Was delivered in time; however, the book had more marks than was expected and the corner of the front page was torn. Otherwise, the book was in fine condition.

I needed this book quickly for a class, and I was nervous that it would take awhile. It was here within just a few days! I would recommend ordering from them to anyone that needs a cheap book quickly!

I'm very happy with the condition of the book, and with the speed in which in arrived at my home.

This book is probably the worst textbook I've used in my college career. Not only is the layout extraordinarily simple and uninteresting, but the writing is a pain to read. I found this text very stuffy and repetitive, with many sentences based on formulaic constructions as, "Implicit in our discussion of 'x', we shall introduce topic 'y,'" and "'x' delineates 'y.'"

As for the content, it seemed to me to be a presentation of many theories without any supporting evidence. The authors present many psychoanalytic-like theories using hypothetical examples, but few real world examples. If you have to use this book, good luck, if not, there are much, much better texts on family psych.

So far this book is killing me.

Hopefully it will get better. It can't get much worse.

I am learning a lot of good information. But it is pulling teeth to get it.

DO NOT ORDER!!! do not buy from this seller...you item will not be shipped. Had to cancel order and go through a headache with customer service because of this seller.