EPPP: Family Therapies (Clinical
Psychology Domain) Practice Exam
with Correct Answers 2025 Graded A+.
General Systems Theory - Answer - Ludwig von Bertalanffy
- System as an entity that is maintained by the mutual interactions of its components.
How do family therapists view the family? - Answer - an open system (receives input from and
discharges output to the environment and is more adaptable to change).
Homeostasis - Answer - Tendency for a family to act in ways that maintain the family's
equilibrium or status quo.
What is a consequence of homeostasis? - Answer - if the problems of one family member
improve, the disturbance is likely to reappear elsewhere in the family.
Cybernetics - Answer - Family communication processes.
- Concept of the feedback loop through which a system receives information
Negative Feedback Loop - Answer - Reduces deviation and helps a system maintain the status
quo
Positive Feedback Loop - Answer - Amplifies deviation or change and thereby disrupts the
system.
- Promotes appropriate change in a dysfunctional family system
What is the reciprocal view of causality? - Answer - A and B influence each other.
- Not linear cause effect relationships
- Kantian tradition
Family therapies focus on what? - Answer - The here and now, are relational, emphasize
freedom of choice, and reflect a contextual, relativistic perspective.
, - Involves conflicting negative injunctions (do that and you will be punished and don't do that
and you will be punished).
- development of schizophrenia.
Communication/Interaction Family Therapy - Answer - This research led to the impact of
communication on family and individual functioning.
Communication/Interaction approach - Answer - All behavior is communication.
Report Function (communication/interaction therapy) - Answer - the content (informational)
aspect of the communication
Comand Function (communication/interaction therapy) - Answer - conveyed nonverbaly and
makes a statement about the relationship between communicators.
When do problems arise with report and command functions? - Answer - When report and
command functions are contradictory.
Communication (interaction) patterns - Answer - symmetrical or complementary.
Symmetrical communications - Answer - Reflect equation communicators but may escalate
into a competitive one upsmanship.
Complementary Communications - Answer - reflect inequality and maximize differences
between communicators.
What is a common complementary pattern? - Answer - For one participant to assume the
dominant role while the other is submissive.
What is the view of maladaptive behavior, according to Communication/interaction family
therapists? - Answer - Accept a circular model of causality that regards a symptom as both a
cause and effect of dysfunctional communication patterns.
- Include blaming and criticizing, mindreading, and overgeneralizing.
Psychology Domain) Practice Exam
with Correct Answers 2025 Graded A+.
General Systems Theory - Answer - Ludwig von Bertalanffy
- System as an entity that is maintained by the mutual interactions of its components.
How do family therapists view the family? - Answer - an open system (receives input from and
discharges output to the environment and is more adaptable to change).
Homeostasis - Answer - Tendency for a family to act in ways that maintain the family's
equilibrium or status quo.
What is a consequence of homeostasis? - Answer - if the problems of one family member
improve, the disturbance is likely to reappear elsewhere in the family.
Cybernetics - Answer - Family communication processes.
- Concept of the feedback loop through which a system receives information
Negative Feedback Loop - Answer - Reduces deviation and helps a system maintain the status
quo
Positive Feedback Loop - Answer - Amplifies deviation or change and thereby disrupts the
system.
- Promotes appropriate change in a dysfunctional family system
What is the reciprocal view of causality? - Answer - A and B influence each other.
- Not linear cause effect relationships
- Kantian tradition
Family therapies focus on what? - Answer - The here and now, are relational, emphasize
freedom of choice, and reflect a contextual, relativistic perspective.
, - Involves conflicting negative injunctions (do that and you will be punished and don't do that
and you will be punished).
- development of schizophrenia.
Communication/Interaction Family Therapy - Answer - This research led to the impact of
communication on family and individual functioning.
Communication/Interaction approach - Answer - All behavior is communication.
Report Function (communication/interaction therapy) - Answer - the content (informational)
aspect of the communication
Comand Function (communication/interaction therapy) - Answer - conveyed nonverbaly and
makes a statement about the relationship between communicators.
When do problems arise with report and command functions? - Answer - When report and
command functions are contradictory.
Communication (interaction) patterns - Answer - symmetrical or complementary.
Symmetrical communications - Answer - Reflect equation communicators but may escalate
into a competitive one upsmanship.
Complementary Communications - Answer - reflect inequality and maximize differences
between communicators.
What is a common complementary pattern? - Answer - For one participant to assume the
dominant role while the other is submissive.
What is the view of maladaptive behavior, according to Communication/interaction family
therapists? - Answer - Accept a circular model of causality that regards a symptom as both a
cause and effect of dysfunctional communication patterns.
- Include blaming and criticizing, mindreading, and overgeneralizing.
