Family Development and the Dynamics of Dysfunction in Family Law and Child Protection Matters

Dr. Garber’s chapter describes an emerging approach in mental health that identifies dysfunctions in parent–child relationships as reflecting specific dynamics that occur between people, rather than as reflecting a disorder that is experienced by one person. The chapter describes how dynamics of polarization, enmeshment, estrangement, and alienation occur in families. Children adjust to these dynamics by trying to reduce their exposure to conflict by adopting strategies including a chameleon approach. Dr. Garber offers a rubric to help assessors to clarify the nature of dynamics that occur in individual families that are experiencing dysfunction.