Interpersonal conflict among family members and between spouses can cause dissatisfaction and threaten the viability of the marriage. Family Defense Mechanisms (FDMs) are defined as fixed patterns of behaviors that, when followed by spouses and other family members, enable them to better manage their interpersonal differences and conflict. Four categories of FDMs are described and illustrated with examples. It is suggested that the concept of FDMs has theoretical and clinical utility, enabling researchers and practitioners to understand family interactions in a new way.
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