Tension causes the two-person dyad to bring in a third person or thing, thus creating a
triangle. People triangles can emerge from the family of origin, meaning the family where the spouse grew up; or the family of procreation, which means the current family. Often the third person in the triangle is a child and very likely the oldest child. In the story of the three little bears, the relationship begins with an adult male and an adult female. Out of that relationship came a baby bear. Usually the wife brings in the third party. Then the baby bear becomes triangulated. That means the baby bear gets involved in the spousal subsystem, thus creating tension for the baby bear and some relief for the spouse who triangulated the child. Some reasons for dissatisfaction of one spouse could be the other spouse spends too much time out of the home by being over involved in work, church or social life outside of the home. Triangles are not limited to one child. There can be multiple triangles in one family. Triangles may include other children, one or more parents, work, church, substance abuse, or/and another woman/man.
QUESTIONS:
1. Identify these patterns in your family of origin, which is the family in which you grew up.
2. Identify these patterns in your nuclear family, which is you current family or family of
procreation.
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