Spatial representation and assessment of family relationships

In recent years, several attempts have been made to assess patterns of cohesion and power in order to analyze family functioning (e.g., Olson, 1986; Wood, 1985). In most studies, researchers use self-report methods or observation of family interactions. These methods often base the measurement of family structure on a total family score and therefore do not explicitly consider different system levels (dyads, etc.). This review presents Symbolic Figure Placement Techniques (SFPTs) and discusses their relevance for the investigation of family cohesion and power.