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Theory of Constraints in Couple and Family Therapy

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Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy

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Name of Theory

Theory of Constraints in Couple and Family Therapy

Synonyms

Negative explanation; Restraints

Introduction

The Theory of Constraints derives from Gregory Bateson’s theory of Negative Explanation (Bateson 1972). This theory holds that a phenomenon occurs because something keeps a different phenomenon from occurring. Applied to the practice of couple and family therapy, the theory posits that people in a relational system do what they do because they are kept, that is constrained, from doing something else. The problems of a relational system, therefore, are the result of constraints rather than pathology. The theory of constraints encourages therapists to maintain a systemic lens, thereby holding the view that relational systems solve problems by lifting constraints.

Prominent Associated Figures

Douglas C. Breunlin

Gregory Bateson

William Pinsof

William Russell

Michael White

Description

Gregory Bateson was an anthropologist whose thinking had a major impact on the theories...

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References

  • Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind: Collected essays in anthropology, psychiatry, evolution, and epistemology. Northvale: Jason Aronson.

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  • Breunlin, D. C. (1999). Toward a theory of constraints. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 25(3), 365–382.

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  • Breunlin, D. C., Schwartz, R. C., & Karrer, B. (1992). Metaframeworks: Transcending the models of family therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. (Paperback edition, 1997; Portuguese edition, 2000; Artmed Editorial).

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  • Breunlin, D. C., Pinsof, W., Russell, W., & Lebow, J. (2011). Integrative problem centered metaframeworks (IPCM) therapy I: Core concepts and hypothesizing. Family Process, 50, 293–313.

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  • Pinsof, W., Breunlin, D., Russell, W., & Lebow, J. (2011). Integrative problem centered metaframeworks (IPCM) therapy II: Planning, conversing, and reading feedback. Family Process, 50(4), 314–336.

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  • Russell, B., Pinsof, W., Breunilin, D., & Lebow, J. (2015). Integrative problem centered metaframeworks (IPCM) therapy. In T. Sexton & J. Lebow (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy (pp. 530–544). New York: Routledge.

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  • White, M. (1986). Negative explanation, restraints and double description: A template for family therapy. Family Process, 25(2), 169–184.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Douglas C. Breunlin

Authors
  1. Douglas C. Breunlin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas C. Breunlin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Family Institute at Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Jay Lebow

  2. The Family Institute at Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Anthony Chambers

  3. The Family Institute at Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Douglas C. Breunlin

Section Editor information

  1. The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Jessica Rohlfing Pryor Ph.D

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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

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Cite this entry

Breunlin, D.C. (2018). Theory of Constraints in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J., Chambers, A., Breunlin, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_913-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_913-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8

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