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An Automated Procedure for Testing a Theory of Consensual Experience in Families

David Reiss, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1971;25(5):442-455.

Abstract
A computer-automated procedure for testing a theory of family problemsolving was developed. The theory distinguishes between "environmentsensitive families" who view their world as intriguing, orderly, and masterable, and "consensus-sensitive families" who view their world as chaotic, threatening, and uncontrollable. Using a computer and five teletypes, the procedure permitted contact between family members to be varied while information about the problem to be solved was kept constant. The procedure revealed predicted differences in the performance of environment-sensitive families and consensus-sensitive families. The former showed no change in family problem-solving abilities as intermember access was diminished whereas, the latter showed improvement.

Author Affiliations
Bethesda, Md

From the Section on Experimental Group and Family Studies, Adult Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 21, 1970.

Reprint requests to Building 10, Room 2N210, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md 20014.

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