Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Practice Exam

What term refers to the inability to differentiate due to excessive family involvement?

1. Enmeshment

2. Enactment

3. Entropy

4. Emotional Divorce

The correct answer is: Enmeshment

Enmeshment is a term used in family therapy to describe a scenario where family members are overly involved in each other's lives, leading to a lack of individuality and personal boundaries. This excessive involvement creates a situation where members may struggle to differentiate themselves from one another, leading to difficulties in establishing a clear sense of self. In enmeshed families, individual emotions, thoughts, and needs can become tangled, making it challenging for members to function independently. This concept is essential in understanding the dynamics of family systems, particularly in therapeutic settings where individuals may present with issues stemming from a lack of differentiation. By recognizing enmeshment, therapists can work towards helping clients establish healthier boundaries and facilitate more functional family interactions. Other terms like enactment, entropy, and emotional divorce do not refer to this specific dynamic of excessive family involvement and its impact on differentiation.