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Family and Family Boundaries

Writer's picture: dr.ssa Elizabeth Mooredr.ssa Elizabeth Moore
Jan 123 min read

Una vista suggestiva di una costa che si incontra con il mare, simboleggiando l'importanza dei confini familiari e del delicato equilibrio tra vicinanza e separazione

Family Structure


The family system can be seen as comprising various subsystems. The three main ones are:

  • The couple subsystem

  • The parental subsystem

  • The child subsystem


This differentiation into subsystems is possible due to boundaries.Boundaries are an essential element within the family system, enabling it to respond to daily challenges in a more or less functional way.Clear boundaries are fundamental for fostering a sense of identity and belonging in each family member. Without clear boundaries between what is inside and what is outside, a child may develop a diffuse identity, which in adulthood can be associated with various psychological disorders.


Salvador Minuchin, an Argentinian pediatrician, psychiatrist, and psychotherapist, is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the field of family therapy. He has been described as an architect of family structures and a cornerstone of structural family therapy.

Minuchin describes the nature of boundaries that define family subsystems as existing along a continuum, with two extremes:


  • Overly rigid boundaries: Disengagement

  • Excessively diffuse boundaries: Enmeshment


Family Boundaries AND The Disengaged Family

A family can be defined as a system requiring stability and recognizable reciprocal connections. In disengaged families, boundaries between members are excessively rigid, resulting in significant emotional distance.The actions of family members are disconnected and have little reciprocal impact. Characteristics of a disengaged family include:


  • Limited mutual attention

  • Difficult communication reduced to mere exchanges of information

  • A lack of protective and supportive functions


The Enmeshed Family

At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the enmeshed family, a system focused inward.In enmeshed families, mutual interest is accompanied by an excessively high level of communication, with little to no autonomy or personal space. Loyalty and protection take precedence over autonomy and self-fulfillment.A child raised in such a family learns to subordinate their self to others and places significant importance on physical proximity.

Minuchin speaks of "families with open doors," where this metaphor finds a tangible expression in daily habits. For example, disputes between parents and adolescent children about the ability to close their bedroom doors are common, as the implicit rule of togetherness and sharing allows no exceptions.Enmeshed families respond to changes with excessive speed and intensity. Stress experienced by one member quickly resonates and echoes through the other subsystems.

Enmeshment and overprotectiveness are two sides of the same coin. Studies have shown that families of individuals with anorexia nervosa often operate based on highly enmeshed models.


Conclusions

As children grow, it is natural for families to shift from a more enmeshed style to a more disengaged one, aligning with the child's increasing autonomy.Operating at either extreme suggests areas of potential dysfunction. Both styles can cause problems, particularly when adaptive mechanisms are required.

In family therapy, the therapist facilitates improved communication in disengaged families and reduces emotional pressure in enmeshed families. This allows family members to regain autonomy and establish their own identities.




  Written by

Dr Elizabeth Moore, Psychologist

(consultation only in Italian)

 

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Bibliography

 

  • Minuchin Salvador, Rosman l. Bernice, Baker Lester, Famiglie psicosomatiche, Astrolabio, Roma, 1980

  • Minuchin Salvador, Guida alle tecniche della terapia della famiglia, Astrolabio, 1982

  • Freud Anna, Normalità e Patologia nel bambino, Feltrinelli, Milano 1983

  • Selvini P. M., Cirillo S. Sorrentino A. M. I giochi psicotici nella famiglia, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, 1988


External resources

If you wish to explore the topic of psychological manipulation further and find relevant articles and studies, consider these important academic and institutional resour


  1. American Psychological Association (APA)Offre ricerche e articoli sull'importanza dei confini familiari, includendo le dinamiche psicologiche e relazionali all'interno della famiglia.Link: American Psychological Association


  2. Istituto degli Studi sulla Famiglia - Università CattolicaRaccoglie studi accademici su famiglia e relazioni interpersonali, con particolare attenzione ai confini familiari e al benessere emotivo.Link: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore


  3. Journal of Family TherapyUna rivista che pubblica articoli su vari aspetti delle dinamiche familiari, compresi i confini e la loro gestione in contesti terapeutici.Link: Journal of Family Therapy


  4. World Health Organization (WHO)Offre linee guida e ricerche su come il benessere familiare e la salute mentale possano essere influenzati dai confini e dai ruoli familiari.Link: World Health Organization


  5. Società Italiana di Psicologia della FamigliaRaccoglie studi su vari aspetti della psicologia familiare, con un focus su confini, ruoli e relazioni familiari.Link: SIPF



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