Epigenesis: The Natural Development of Family Crises Leading to the Hospitalization of Adolescents

Abstract

Currently the idea of epigenesis, natural development, is being included in the growing fund of knowledge necessary for the family therapist. In addition to such concepts as systems, double binds, pseudo-mutuality, marital schisms and skews, self-differentiation, homeostasis, scapegoating, etc., a thorough understanding of the family's developmental process is required. This article will (a) briefly review theory relating to epigenesis, (b) present a fictional illustration of an ideal family type, and (c) present two case studies of families with problems related to epigenesis of crises. The theoretical background and fictional illustration will provide a basis for understanding the case studies. The fictional family, from de Hartog's play, The Fourposter, provides an example of a family in which developmental crises were dealt with satisfactorily. The other two families, representing unsuccessful family develop-