FAMILY SOLUTIONS INSTITUTE AMFTRB EXAM
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Arguing and bickering that hides "pathological alignments" in
families
A volatile and intense way of disguising and distorting both affection
and splits
Prevents open communication and quality relationships (Lyman Wynne,
1940s). Answer: Psuedohostility
◉ Families are seemingly yielding, but are in fact nearly impermeable to
information from the outside; boundaries bind them together in their
resistance to separation" Appear open and flexible but are closed.
(Lyman Wynne, 1940s). Answer: Rubber-Fence Boundary
◉ Attachment theory. Identified the characteristics of a child's
attachment to his/her caregiver and the phases that a child experiences
when separated from the caregiver.. Answer: John Bowlby
◉ - Secure Attachment
- Insecure Attachment (Anxious-Avoidant)
,- Insecure Attachment (Ambivalent-Resistant)
- Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment. Answer: Different attachment
styles (Bowlby, 1949)
◉ Professor out of Yale, researched schizophrenia and the marital
couple's influence on the development of schizophrenia in a child
(1950s)
-Marital Schism: Parents overly focused on their own problems which
harms the marriage, individuals, and the children.
-Marital Skew: One parent dominates the family and the other is
dependent.. Answer: Theodore Lidz
◉ Founded by Don Jackson and Nathan Ackerman, edited by Jay Haley
(1962). Answer: "Family process" (peer-reviewed journal)
◉ MRI; Mental Research Institute A center for the study of families in
Palo, Alto, CA whose researchers and practioners- Bateson, Jackson,
Satir, Weakland, Fry, and Haley studied schizophrenia and family
interactions, communication, and cybernetic theory. They emphasized
process and interactional sequences rather than structure, and
distinguished between first-order and second-order change. They
developed a version of Brief Family Therapy based on the notion that
the "problem" or tx focus, stems from the failed solution previously
attempted by the family.. Answer: Mental Research Institute (MRI)
◉ Coined the term and theory "cybernetics". Answer: Norbert Wiener
,◉ living systems are like cybernetic systems that are equipped w/
complex feed systems capable of maintaining a desired state of affairs
(i.e. homeostasis) → leads to Bowlby's system of behavior control.
Answer: General Systems Theory
◉ distinct pattern of communication in which one individual receives
contradictory commands from which there is no escape (lose, lose
situation). Answer: Double bind theory
◉ 1) Communication involves 2 or more people who are involved in an
important emotional relationship.
2) The pattern of communication and the relationship is a repeated
experience.
3) The communication involves a primary negative injunction--or a
command not to do (some act) or not to NOT do (some act), either of
which come with a threat of punishment.
4) A second abstract injunction is given that contradicts the primary
injunction but at a more abstract level and is usually nonverbal. This also
occurs under the threat of punishment.
5) A third negative injunction both demands a response and prevents
escape, effectively binding the recipient to the environment in which
these patterns exist.
6) When the above double bind messages have been communicated
enough times, the individual has become conditioned which no longer
, requires all of the above mentioned criteria to be present in order to elicit
the same intensity in re. Answer: 6 characteristic of a double bind
◉ Theory of Logical Types. Answer: Bertrand Russell
◉ General Systems Theory. Answer: Ludwig von Bertalanffy
◉ Hypnosis and paradox. Answer: Milton Erickson
◉ Human Communication Processes (influenced by Russell, Von
Bertalanffy, Wiener, Erickson). Answer: Gregory Bateson
◉ . Answer: MRI Systemic Therapy
◉ Jay Haley
Emphasizes change techniques over theory. Influenced by Milton
Erickson
Therapist is very directive, especially useful with change-resistant
families
Techniques: Take charge role, directives, paradoxical directives, ordeals,
out-positioning, reframing. Answer: Strategic Family Therapy
◉ A theory and therapeutic model influenced by Bateson and the MRI
Group, originally developed in Italy by Selvini Palazzoli, Boscolo,
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Arguing and bickering that hides "pathological alignments" in
families
A volatile and intense way of disguising and distorting both affection
and splits
Prevents open communication and quality relationships (Lyman Wynne,
1940s). Answer: Psuedohostility
◉ Families are seemingly yielding, but are in fact nearly impermeable to
information from the outside; boundaries bind them together in their
resistance to separation" Appear open and flexible but are closed.
(Lyman Wynne, 1940s). Answer: Rubber-Fence Boundary
◉ Attachment theory. Identified the characteristics of a child's
attachment to his/her caregiver and the phases that a child experiences
when separated from the caregiver.. Answer: John Bowlby
◉ - Secure Attachment
- Insecure Attachment (Anxious-Avoidant)
,- Insecure Attachment (Ambivalent-Resistant)
- Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment. Answer: Different attachment
styles (Bowlby, 1949)
◉ Professor out of Yale, researched schizophrenia and the marital
couple's influence on the development of schizophrenia in a child
(1950s)
-Marital Schism: Parents overly focused on their own problems which
harms the marriage, individuals, and the children.
-Marital Skew: One parent dominates the family and the other is
dependent.. Answer: Theodore Lidz
◉ Founded by Don Jackson and Nathan Ackerman, edited by Jay Haley
(1962). Answer: "Family process" (peer-reviewed journal)
◉ MRI; Mental Research Institute A center for the study of families in
Palo, Alto, CA whose researchers and practioners- Bateson, Jackson,
Satir, Weakland, Fry, and Haley studied schizophrenia and family
interactions, communication, and cybernetic theory. They emphasized
process and interactional sequences rather than structure, and
distinguished between first-order and second-order change. They
developed a version of Brief Family Therapy based on the notion that
the "problem" or tx focus, stems from the failed solution previously
attempted by the family.. Answer: Mental Research Institute (MRI)
◉ Coined the term and theory "cybernetics". Answer: Norbert Wiener
,◉ living systems are like cybernetic systems that are equipped w/
complex feed systems capable of maintaining a desired state of affairs
(i.e. homeostasis) → leads to Bowlby's system of behavior control.
Answer: General Systems Theory
◉ distinct pattern of communication in which one individual receives
contradictory commands from which there is no escape (lose, lose
situation). Answer: Double bind theory
◉ 1) Communication involves 2 or more people who are involved in an
important emotional relationship.
2) The pattern of communication and the relationship is a repeated
experience.
3) The communication involves a primary negative injunction--or a
command not to do (some act) or not to NOT do (some act), either of
which come with a threat of punishment.
4) A second abstract injunction is given that contradicts the primary
injunction but at a more abstract level and is usually nonverbal. This also
occurs under the threat of punishment.
5) A third negative injunction both demands a response and prevents
escape, effectively binding the recipient to the environment in which
these patterns exist.
6) When the above double bind messages have been communicated
enough times, the individual has become conditioned which no longer
, requires all of the above mentioned criteria to be present in order to elicit
the same intensity in re. Answer: 6 characteristic of a double bind
◉ Theory of Logical Types. Answer: Bertrand Russell
◉ General Systems Theory. Answer: Ludwig von Bertalanffy
◉ Hypnosis and paradox. Answer: Milton Erickson
◉ Human Communication Processes (influenced by Russell, Von
Bertalanffy, Wiener, Erickson). Answer: Gregory Bateson
◉ . Answer: MRI Systemic Therapy
◉ Jay Haley
Emphasizes change techniques over theory. Influenced by Milton
Erickson
Therapist is very directive, especially useful with change-resistant
families
Techniques: Take charge role, directives, paradoxical directives, ordeals,
out-positioning, reframing. Answer: Strategic Family Therapy
◉ A theory and therapeutic model influenced by Bateson and the MRI
Group, originally developed in Italy by Selvini Palazzoli, Boscolo,
