James E. Hunter, MSW, and Nancy Schuman, MSW, are Outpatient Therapists, Community Health and Counseling Service, Lincoln, Maine. The developmental and epigenetic riage households. These terms sug theoretical orientations sensitize social gest more or less stable unit (for workers to the need to view psychoexample, a single-parent or logical and social events as processes reconstituted family) that can be occurring through time. Epigenetic compared with primary unit theory advances the notion that one (one in which neither partner was pre stage of development builds on the previously married). The authors believe ceding stage. Social workers underthat only when the new family pattern stand that isolated events are not selfis viewed as process through time can explanatory .but must be understood in social workers fully appreciate the na the context of developmental process, ture of what is happening to the family Minuchin suggests that in society and begin to evaluate the consequences of these changes, schema based on viewing the family The new pattern, from marital point as system, operating within specific 0f view, has been called sequential social contexts, has three compopolygamy or .-serial monogamy.3 nents. First, the structure of the famThe advant of these terms is that ily is that of an open sociocultural , , . , . system in transformation. Second, they focus one s attentl0n on the Phe the family undergoes development, nomena as processes through time. The moving through number of stages limitation of these terms is that they are that require restructuring. Third, the descriptive only of the marital dimen family adapts to changed circumsion, not of the whole family process, stances so as to maintain continuity and enlarge the psychological growth of each member. [Italics REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE added 1' J Research is needed to evaluate more accurately the ramifications of alterna Each of these components involves tive family styles. A review of recent process through time. literature reveals wide range of inter On theoretical level the need to est in the general subject. Several kinds understand the psychosocial aspects of of studies emerge, family life in terms of processes occurThe more theoretical studies that ring through time has been understood delve into causes and dynamics of al for long time. Erikson's formulation tered family patterns, including di of epigenetic theory that reflects this vorce, single parents, remarriage understanding is theory about family households, and are life as much as it is theory about psysummarized in an excellent bibliogra chological development.2 Currently, phy by Walker et al.6 In addition to virtually every contemporary family these sources, several articles are more theorist uses systems orientation that specifically oriented to social work views family dynamics as processes practice.7 For example, Jacobson's developing through time. Bowen, for and Mendes's articles are methodologi example, emphasizes the need for at cally aimed, focusing on families' ad least three-generational view.3 justment to change, which can be en Although social workers are able to hanced by social workers. In addition, conceptualize the traditional moRhodes describes the family in terms of nogamous family of Western society developmental management, concept in terms of processes through time, with broad practice implications. She their ability to apply this perspective to suggests that critical points in the fam the evaluation of contemporary alterily life cycle allow skills related to the native family styles is considerably less management of tasks to accrue from adequate. Significant evidence of crisis to crisis. basic shift in the fundamental family Empirical research on alternative patterns of society has been acfamily styles is not as extensive as one cumulating for some time.4 Articles would expect in an area that arouses so discussing this shift speak of singlemuch general interest. Glick and Nor parent families, reconstituted ton and Carter and Glick provide useful families, stepfamilies, and remardemographic data concerning this area