Retrospect and prospect in the psychological study of families.

Provides an overview of family group dynamics. First, the authors draw on the work of the anthropologist S. Harrell to describe 4 basic family system formations. The authors then consider more specifically family groups in the US and the roots of American psychologists\u27 current belief system about optimal family functioning. Next, the authors spotlight recent research on coparenting and family group process in the nuclear family group and discuss studies linking these dynamics to important indicators of young children\u27s development and adaptation. The authors emphasize the need to extend this fledging knowledge base on how coparental and family group processes affect children\u27s development to include family systems beyond the 2-parent nuclear family, and the authors conclude with some thoughts about clinical practice, public policy, and future coparenting and family group research.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/books/1128/thumbnail.jp