Psychological differentiation, self-concept, and object relations of adolescents as a function of family consensual types

Thirty-three intact families consisting of an adolescent referred for psychotherapy, and a sibling adolescent, were classified according to the Reiss Card Sorting Test. All the families fit two of the types described by the theory of Reiss, the consensus sensitive and the distance sensitive; none were from the environment sensitive. Significant differences were found to exist between the adolescents in these two family types on personality measures. The adolescents from consensus-sensitive families showed a higher level of psychological differentiation, a higher self-concept, and more mature object relations than adolescents from the distance-sensitive families. The results verify and broaden aspects of Reiss' theory and are discussed in consideration with the development that has taken place in family therapy and research. They suggest that the relationship between the family and the adjustment of its children can be better understood and predicted on the basis of the family type.