This chapter reviews the family interaction literature concerned with families of alcoholics. The development of this area is traced from early reports that focused on individual family members to more recent approaches concerned with the family as an interacting unit. Theories that suggest that family processes reinforce patterns of abusive drinking are examined in light of existing empirical evidence. The interpretation of findings is limited by an insufficient number of studies, a lack of replication, and a lack of systematic programs of research. Recently, more rigorously controlled experiments have demonstrated that the interactions of families of alcoholics can be differentiated from those of nondistressed and other distressed families. Suggested future directions include exploration of family interactions with respect to female alcoholics and offspring outcome.
CITATION STYLE
Jacob, T., & Seilhamer, R. A. (1989). Alcoholism and family interaction. Recent Developments in Alcoholism : An Official Publication of the American Medical Society on Alcoholism, the Research Society on Alcoholism, and the National Council on Alcoholism. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0840-7_15
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