In Milan Systemic Family Therapy, which concept describes sacrificing a family member to keep the family structure intact?

In Milan Systemic Family Therapy, which concept describes sacrificing a family member to keep the family structure intact?

• A. Scapegoating
• B. Triangulation
• C. Detriangulation
• D. Differentiation

Answer: (A)

In Milan Systemic Family Therapy, families often preserve the overall functioning by designating a scapegoat—one member who carries the blame and dysfunction so the rest of the family can maintain structure and avoid confronting deeper issues. The scapegoat’s burden serves to absorb conflict, allowing other members to continue their roles with less direct tension, which helps keep the family’s balance intact in the short term. This pattern is maladaptive for the scapegoat over time, but it explains why the family system behaves as it does. Triangulation involves bringing a third person into a conflict between two others to diffuse tension, which is a different dynamic. Detriangulation refers to removing or dissolving triangular relations, and differentiation is about an individual's capacity to maintain individuality and emotional boundaries within the system. Therefore, the described concept is scapegoating.

In Milan Systemic Family Therapy, families often preserve the overall functioning by designating a scapegoat—one member who carries the blame and dysfunction so the rest of the family can maintain structure and avoid confronting deeper issues. The scapegoat’s burden serves to absorb conflict, allowing other members to continue their roles with less direct tension, which helps keep the family’s balance intact in the short term. This pattern is maladaptive for the scapegoat over time, but it explains why the family system behaves as it does. Triangulation involves bringing a third person into a conflict between two others to diffuse tension, which is a different dynamic. Detriangulation refers to removing or dissolving triangular relations, and differentiation is about an individual's capacity to maintain individuality and emotional boundaries within the system. Therefore, the described concept is scapegoating.