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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Chapter Overview

This chapter is structured to review and evaluate both the historical perspective of enmeshed family system and the current psychological literature. The system and enmeshment in relation to life satisfaction is examined in order to understand the essence of the closed family. Characteristics related to marriage, divorce, and maternal care are also explored and considered along with studies on psychopathology of members of enmeshed families.

Review of Historical Background

The Definition of Family

In American culture, the socially-normative family is defined as “a relationship system in which members are connected biological (genetic) links, affective (emotional) bonds, and legal commitments” (Terkelsen, 1980, p. 22). A family unit is distinguished from other social systems by a primary characteristic - membership. Membership is experienced as permanent. A generally accepted premise, validated in many clinical cases, indicates that family relationships continue on some level in spite of circumstances such as divorce, geographical separation, or emotional cut offs” (Kramer, 1958, p. 18). The bonds of family are sustained through shared history and the intergenerational process; even death does not sever the ties of family.

The Family as a System

Various researchers use various definitions for a system. Von Bertalanff (1968) stated that a “system is a complex of elements standing in interaction” (p. 33). J.G. Miller (1971), a biologist studying living systems, defined a system as a “set of interaction units with relationships among them” (p. 16). Early family researchers described a system as “any entity whose parts co-vary with each other and which maintain equilibrium in an error activated way” (Hoffman, 1981, p. 17).

Minuchin (1977) observed:

The family's major psychosocial task to support its members has become important than ever. Only the family, society's smallest unit, can change and maintain enough continuity to rear children who will not be “strangers in strange land,” who will be rooted enough to grow and adapt (47).

There are two kinds of systems: open and closed. An open system, such as an ideal family, experiences a continuous exchange of material, energy, and information between subsystems within the system, as well as with other systems that exist in relationship with the open system. In contrast, a closed system does not exchange material, energy, or information with other systems. Eventually, a closed system will decompose.

Families are dynamic, life-giving, human organisms. Change and adaptation are natural part of the family process. Family systems exist in a way that insures survival through the implementation of both open and closed systems.

An open system family is characterized by members who accept differences, feel excitement, feel joyful, hopeful and energetic, and are flexible in their views and behaviors (Satir, Banmen, Gerber, & Gomori, 1991, pp.78). A closed system family requires rules in order to function. It is characterized by members who are guarded with each other, are hostile, feel powerless, controlled, and are passive, are inflexible in their views and behaviors, wear a facade of indifference toward each other, and do not differentiate between anxiety and excitement ...