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Key Terms

accuracy
a person’s perception of the other person’s evaluation reflects the other person’s actual perception
adverse childhood experiences (ACE)
negative experiences in childhood that affect long-term physical and emotional health
agreement
the individuals have the same perception
boundaries
distinct emotional, psychological, or physical separateness between individuals, roles, and subsystems in the family
co-orientation
when two or more people experience the same physical or emotional input and develop a corresponding perception or response
coalition
a situation in which family members team up against another family member
conformity
communication patterns in which family members are expected to follow hierarchical family values
congruence
an individual’s perception and the other person’s perception are similar
conversation
communication patterns in which family members are encouraged to evaluate topics independently and discuss them with the family
ecomap
a diagram that show connections between families or family members and their social environment
extended family
a family group typically made up of at least three generations: grandparents, parents, and children
external family structure
how a family interacts with their community and extended family
familial disorder
disease that tends to present among individuals from the same family line
family
socially recognized group, usually joined by blood, marriage, cohabitation, or adoption, that forms an emotional connection and serves as an economic unit of society
family composition
the design of a family structure, including relationships between members
family life cycle
the set of predictable steps and patterns families experience over time
family of orientation
the family into which a person is born
family of procreation
the family that is formed with the intention of bearing children
family structure
the internal and external makeup of families
functional family therapy
focuses on behavior, communication, and parenting skills
genetic disorder
caused by a change in a genetic DNA sequence or a mutation in a gene or multiple genes
genogram
written or digital diagram showing relationships between family members
hereditary
when a disorder is passed naturally from parent to offspring through their genes
relationship counseling
focuses on communication and problem-solving for couples in a long-term or romantic relationship
strategic family therapy
focuses on making structural and behavioral changes to improve the overall family environment
structural family therapy
focuses on interpersonal relationships among family members
systemic family therapy
focuses on family issues within the context of their wider system, such as cultural, religious, and socioeconomic status
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