Two perspectives on family rifts: the concepts of estrangement and cut-off

IF 0.7 4区 心理学 Q4 FAMILY STUDIES
Anne S. McKnight
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Abstract

This article presents a survey of literature written on the concepts of estrangement and cut-off, comparing the similarities of the two concepts and distinguishing significant differences in the scope and theoretical underpinnings of the ideas. Lucy Blake's review of the research studies on estrangement available in 2017 found no common agreement on the concept of estrangement. Quantitative research focused on the amount of contact and qualitative research on the quality of the contact. Susan Forward's approach to rifts between adult children and their parents, which is reflected in the work of the Standalone organisation in Britain, is that parents who are critical or non-affirming of their adult child are toxic. These traits are thought to create difficulties in the life of the adult child, who is advised to sever contact as a step towards self-actualisation. On the other hand, Joshua Coleman and Karl Pillemer focus on estrangement as the outcome of the tension between the parent and child, both of whom play a part in the rift, advocating that each side moderate their reactivity, blame and expectations. Kylie Agllias's research utilises concepts from family systems theory, recommending the effort to self-regulate and to understand one's contribution to the reactivity as integral to reconciliation. Murray Bowen conceptualised the family as a multigenerational family system with varying mechanisms, including cut-off, to handle tension as the family unit adapts to stressors over time. Cut-off is an outcome of the family's level of anxiety and the capacity of the family for differentiation, their thoughtful collaboration with one another to address the challenges they face. The effort to bridge cut-off is one aspect of an individual's effort to be a more thoughtful, connected presence in the family system as work on differentiation of self.

从两个角度看家庭裂痕:疏远和断绝的概念
本文介绍了关于疏远和切断概念的文献调查,比较了这两个概念的相似之处,并区分了这两个概念在思想范围和理论基础上的显著差异。露西-布莱克(Lucy Blake)对2017年现有的关于疏远的研究综述发现,关于疏远的概念并没有达成共同的共识。定量研究侧重于接触的数量,定性研究侧重于接触的质量。苏珊-福沃德(Susan Forward)处理成年子女与父母之间裂痕的方法,反映在英国独立组织的工作中,就是认为对成年子女持批评或不肯定态度的父母是有毒的。这些特征被认为会给成年子女的生活造成困难,建议他们切断联系,以此作为实现自我的一个步骤。另一方面,约书亚-科尔曼(Joshua Coleman)和卡尔-皮勒默(Karl Pillemer)则认为疏远是父母与子女之间紧张关系的结果,双方都在裂痕中扮演了角色,他们主张双方都要缓和自己的反应、指责和期望。凯莉-阿格利亚斯(Kylie Agllias)的研究利用了家庭系统理论的概念,建议努力进行自我调节,并了解自己对反应所起的作用,这是和解所不可或缺的。默里-鲍温(Murray Bowen)将家庭概念化为一个多代同堂的家庭系统,随着时间的推移,家庭单元会适应各种压力,从而建立起不同的机制(包括断绝关系)来处理紧张关系。断裂是家庭焦虑程度和家庭分化能力的结果,也是家庭为应对所面临的挑战而彼此深思熟虑合作的结果。努力消除隔阂是个人在家庭系统中成为一个更体贴、更有联系的存在的努力的一个方面,也是自我分化的工作。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
1.60
自引率
14.30%
发文量
40
期刊介绍: The ANZJFT is reputed to be the most-stolen professional journal in Australia! It is read by clinicians as well as by academics, and each issue includes substantial papers reflecting original perspectives on theory and practice. A lively magazine section keeps its finger on the pulse of family therapy in Australia and New Zealand via local correspondents, and four Foreign Correspondents report on developments in the US and Europe.
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