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

~ (Author), Ronald M. Sabatelli (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Using a family systems and a multigenerational, developmental framework, this text highlights the challenges faced by contemporary families as they move through the life course. Family Interaction offers a comprehensive overview of the major conceptual models that are used to understand the patterns and interactional dynamics that operate in families. It provides readers with an overview of the basic tasks that all families must execute regardless of their particular composition or living situation and, at the same time, offers readers an appreciation of the variety and uniqueness in the ways in which each family develops its patterns of interaction.

From the Back Cover

Using a family systems and a multigenerational, developmental framework, this text highlights the challenges faced by contemporary families as they move through the life course. Family Interaction offers a comprehensive overview of the major conceptual models that are used to understand the patterns and interactional dynamics that operate in families. It provides readers with an overview of the basic tasks that all families must execute regardless of their particular composition or living situation and, at the same time, offers readers an appreciation of the varied and unique ways each family develops its patterns of interaction.

 

As with every edition, this text has been thoroughly updated, including new research on parent—child relations, adolescent adjustment, couple communication, divorce, and conflict resolution.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 4 edition (July 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205485472
• ISBN-13: 978-0205485475
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #387,756 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb for those interested in family systems and theapy!, April 14, 2001

By	Ta-Wei Wang (Taiwan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Family Interaction: A Multigenerational Developmental Perspective (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

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!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Soooo bad, June 13, 2007

By	Ryan (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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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.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Death by Family, September 9, 2005

By	Leo J. Hertling III "GImli's Axe" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Family Interaction: A Multigenerational Developmental Perspective (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

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.