Triangulation and adolescent development in the US and Japan

Using an indirect measure of family structure, relationships between parent s and adolescents were studied in 99 U. S. and 60 Japanese families. As two -person relationships tend toward instability under stress, a third person, may be drawn in to stabilize the system. Parents, for example, may avoid t he tension in, the marital relationship by focusing together on art adolesc ent's problem, or pull the adolescent into a coalition with one parent. Eit her way the parents are said to have "triangled" the adolescent. In this st udy, a relationship is found between parents avoiding tension in their own relationship and their tendency to triangle an adolescent. Triangled daught ers, in both cultures, had lower scores on ego development, supporting the hypothesis that such patterns can, be detrimental to the adolescent's perso nal development. The discussion includes comments on cross-cultural researc h.