Homeostasis in Family Systems Theory

Seshadri, Gita

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_267

Gita Seshadri⁴

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Name of Concept

Homeostasis

Synonyms

Balance; Equilibrium

Introduction

The field of family therapy has often used the term homeostasis as a scientific term to describe what happens in between relationships, as well as how they are maintained, for better or for worse. It is a term that is associated with family systems theory and originated with MRI brief family therapy and associated with concepts from strategic, structural, and Bowen family therapies, though there is application to all family therapy theories (Minnuchin and Fishman 1981). The term homeostasis is derived from the early works of French physiologists Claude Bernard and Walter Cannon; their works have shaped much of the scientific, medical/psychiatric, and mental health communities in connection with the mind and body (Davies 2016).

More specifically, homeostasis references a state of balance* and equilibrium* and/or consistency (Davies 2016). Don Jackson, a key figure in the field of family therapy wrote: “[homeostasis]...

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

Alliant International University, Sacramento, CA, USA
Gita Seshadri

Authors

Gita Seshadri
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Correspondence to Gita Seshadri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Jay L. Lebow
The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Anthony L. Chambers
The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Douglas C. Breunlin

Section Editor information

Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
David Kearns
The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Bahareh Sahebi

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Seshadri, G. (2019). Homeostasis in Family Systems Theory. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_267

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_267
Published: 10 October 2019
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-49423-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-49425-8
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