Family Unit Therapy and the Science and Typology of Family Systems

This paper attempts to review and evaluate the theoretical models used in family therapy. Speer's ( 20 ) critique is given special attention. This critique provides a starting point for a theoretical reformulation, supported by the author's ( 20 , 21 ) and other workers' ( 5 ) experimental findings. A theoretically derived, three-dimensional typology of family systems is described. This is based on the notion of a balance between morphostatic and morphogenic properties of the family system, as defined. Using a high and low value for each of the three dimensions, eight family types are isolated and each type is tied to therapeutic predictions. The proposed typology is discussed in relation to an inductively derived typology recently reported by Reiss ( 16 ) The need for further validation of the typological scheme is stressed, and its possible clinical applications are outlined.