title: A clarification of Multisystem-Multimethod assessment: reductionism versus wholism.
abstract: A clarification and response to a critique of the Multisystem-Multimethod (MS-MM) family assessment is provided in this paper. This approach consists of a logic for integrating family assessment, systems thinking, and clinical interventions. In contrast to the wholistic, or systemic, focus of MS-MM family assessment, the critique of these procedures recommends a more reductionistic approach that contradicts basic elements of systems theory. The critique advocates the isolation and measurement of a few family phenomena, whereas MS-MM assessment recognizes the interdependence among the levels of organization and components of family systems.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012392:Rorschach Test; D013803:Thematic Apperception Test