Family Systems from a Developmental Psychopathology Perspective

Abstract

Abstract This chapter discusses the intersections between family systems theory and developmental psychopathology. Beginning with a review of the historical and theoretical underpinnings of family systems theory, the chapter goes on to discuss the characteristics of family systems, processes of development and change, conceptualizations of psychopathology and its classification from a family perspective, and points of convergence and divergence between family systems and the developmental psychopathology perspective. After a presentation of the challenges posed by historical changes and cultural and ethnic diversity in family systems, family research methods are discussed, and state‐of‐the‐art in empirical investigations designed to test the underlying tenets of family systems theory, including global family qualities, spillover of marital conflict onto family process, triangulation, coparenting, and boundary dissolution. Finally, growing points for future integration of family systems into the developmental psychopathology literature are presented.