Invisible Loyalties: Reciprocity in Intergenerational Family Therapy

By Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy

Book Overview

First published in 1984. This book was written in order to share the authors' experience as family therapists not only with professionals but with families. We live in an age of anxiety, fear of violence and questioning of fundamental values. Confidence in traditional values is being challenged. Waves of prejudice seem to endanger our trust in one another and our loyalty to society. The strength of family relations or their effect on individuals is extremely difficult to measure. The authors of this book believe that observable changes in the family do not necessarily alter the member to- member impact of family relationships. Invisible loyalty commitments to one's family follow paradoxical laws: The martyr who doesn't let other family members work off their guilt is a far more powerfully controlling force than the loud, demanding bully. The manifestly rebellious or delinquent child may actually be the most loyal member of a family.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138004421
• ISBN13: 9781138004429
• Release Date: August 2014
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 407 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great book for understanding family dynamics

I read this book in the early 90's and continue to refer to it when I want to understand or explain to others why people interact with their family members in ways that clearly seem not to be in their own best interest. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to get a deeper understanding of family dynamics.