INTERPERSONAL CONTROL IN STRUCTURAL AND MILAN SYSTEMIC FAMILY THERAPY

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Abstract
The structural and Milan systemic approaches were compared in order to determine the extent to which their major proponents behave in ways that are consistent with theory. The focus was on interpersonal control dynamics between therapist and family system. Three published transcripts of each treatment were intensively studied using the Family Relational Communication Control Coding System (Friedlander & Heatherington, 1989; Heatherington & Friedlander, 1987), a systemically based instrument that identifies interpersonal control patterns in naturally occurring language. Results were generally congruent with theory and reflected hypothesized differences in the approaches. Whereas therapists in both approaches engage heavily in complementary transactions in which they are “one‐up” and the family members are “one‐down,” a number of other relational indices show considerable divergence. The implications of these results for an integration of the two approaches are discussed.