Which theory highlights family structure, boundaries, and roles as central to understanding family problems?

• A. Family Systems Theory
• B. Brief Strategic Therapy
• C. Structural Theory
• D. Solution Focused Therapy

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that how a family is organized—the boundaries between members, the roles people take, and how subsystems are arranged—shapes how problems occur and persist. This approach, Structural Theory, zeroes in on that organization. It maps the family into subsystems (like the parent couple vs. the children), notes how firm or diffuse the boundaries are, and watches who teams up with whom. When boundaries are too rigid, communication becomes distant; when they’re too loose, there’s enmeshment and lack of each person’s autonomy. By changing the structure—redefining boundaries, realigning subsystems, and adjusting coalitions—the family can interact in healthier ways. Other therapies may focus on patterns, strategies, or future goals, but this one centers on how the family is actually put together and how that structure drives problems.