What term best describes emotionally distant family members who are disconnected due to rigid boundaries?

The term that best describes emotionally distant family members who are disconnected due to rigid boundaries is disengagement. In the context of family systems theory, disengagement refers to a noted lack of emotional connection between family members, where interactions are marked by distance and minimal communication. This phenomenon often results from rigid boundaries that prevent family members from adequately engaging or expressing their feelings, leading to emotional isolation.

Emotionally distant relationships can be likened to a wall created by those rigid boundaries, making it challenging for individuals to form deep, supportive connections. The result is a family environment that may lack warmth, support, and mutual understanding, which are critical for healthy familial relationships.

While other concepts, such as the displacement story, the disease model of addiction, and dominant cultural discourses, are important in family therapy, they do not specifically address the dynamics of emotional distance and rigid boundaries among family members as effectively as disengagement.