The manifestation of family triangulation in Asian–Chinese families and its relevance to father–son conflict

Abstract

The concept of family triangulation has existed in the West for more than 30 years, but the extent to which it can be applied in the East has not been demonstrated. Using a case study conducted by a leader in the field and building on the interplay of three dyads, this study uses the four-step model of assessment (Minuchin et al., 2007, <i>Assessing Families and Couples: From Symptom to System</i>, Allyn and Bacon, New York) to articulate the manifestation of the phenomenon in Chinese families. The results show that father–son conflict arises from mother–son attachment and hidden father–mother conflict; the father–son conflict presented in the case study illustrates the intertwined relationship between these dyads. Finally, the significance of the triangular perspective in dealing with father–son conflict in Asian–Chinese families is noted.