Spatiality of the family's inner structure: choice of seat in family therapy.
Many family therapists have observed that the family's choice of seat in the family therapy session provides information concerning the inner structure of the family. The purpose of this study was to study certain aspects of this observation. The selection of seats in family therapy sessions and the mutual distances between family members were investigated for 13 families. The inner structure of the family is described in terms of the existence of problematic relationships and the distribution and quality of power as assessed by the family therapists. The family members' selection of seats in the family therapy session was compared to the sitting order at meals, watching TV at home, and family drawings. It was found that the distance between the father and the patient (a son or daughter) and the location of the father and the mother in relation to each other in the family therapy are more related to the inner structure of the family than to situational factors.
Blinnikka
L M
LM
Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Finland.
Seitamaa
M
M
D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011209:Power, Psychological