In recent years increasing attention has been drawn to the idea that the schizophrenic patient and his illness are dynamically related to the family environment in which he lives. This paper examines in detail one particular formulation of this notion: All the qualities of disordered thinking and interpersonal relations which have been described for the individual schizophrenic have recognized counterparts in his family.
Part I of this paper adduces descriptive evidence for this thesis of 2 sorts: One compares the primary symptoms of schizophrenia of the individual patient, as described by Bleuler, to the prevailing thought patterns of the family; the other contrasts some of the qualities of the patient, as seen from an interpersonal point of view, with those of the family.
Part II discusses some theoretical implications of the central thesis. Part III synthesizes the thinking of this paper with other recent