University of RichmondUR Scholarship Repository

Honors Theses Student Research

4-1982

An overview of Virginia Satir's method of familytherapy and an evaluation as to its use in thesubstance abuse rehabilitation fieldKatherine A. Startzman

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Recommended CitationStartzman, Katherine A., "An overview of Virginia Satir's method of family therapy and an evaluation as to its use in the substanceabuse rehabilitation field" (1982). Honors Theses. Paper 797.

The family, mistakenly perceived as an inert system in our culture,

is in reality a dynamic and constantly evolving unit both in structure and

function. More quickly than ever before, the roles family members play,

values, and beliefs are changing. (1975, p. 18) Since the Industrial

Revolution, there has been a move from an agrarian to an urban society

along with rapid economic and social change which has had a major impact

on all institutions. New values in family living have emerged. The

nuclear family was considered ideal. The institutional family of rural

society, with its subordination of the wife to the husband and with paren­

tal authority firmly established, was challenged by the new industrial

society where the new companionship family emerged valuing self-expression,

democracy, and personality development in family living. (1975, p. 19)

The Industrial Revolution affected families in one way by relieving

mates of many burdens but at the same time exposing them to extra pressures.

First of all, the work world became de-personalized and mechanized due to

technology such as automation and specialization. Individual worth being

rated by income left many females feeling downgraded. Many family func­

tions were now taken over by outside institutions such as food preparation

and education. Individual mobility was looked upon as an essential for

advancement which meant families had to follow the money earner. This

contributed to the separation of parents from grandparents which resulted

in the failure to replace the functions they had previously performed. At

the same time, revolutionary social and intellectual influences caused the

modern family to question old assumptions, norms, and values. (1967, p. 23)