Emotional triangles are one example of the interpersonal dynamics that develop within ordinary, everyday families. The implications of the triangle dynamic in the family are in a normal functioning family good genographic coping mechanisms that create healthy interpersonal communication and yet as with many other things more than enough is to much as repeated and long term reliance on triangle dynamics, or the involvement of a third party to elicit communications and resolve conflicts within the family can also damage the family.
             Triangles: A very important principle in the use of genograms is the fact that triangles between three family members often represent the attempt of two members to maintain either closeness or distance. When tension exists between two family members, a natural recourse is to involve a third person to help stabilize this relationship. In the short-term, this tendency to triangulate is a frequent occurrence and appears to be a part of normal family functioning. However, if this pattern of involving a third party in order to negotiate a relationship becomes a part of the regular family functioning over a longer period of time then it is seen as symptomatic or unhealthy. Such a pattern will cause a family system to become more rigid in its way of functioning and will cause problems when the family system is required to adapt or transition to a new life cycle. ("Background and Family Systems Theory website at: http://genogram.freeservers.com/HTML/background.html)
             The foundational aspects of triangulation when it is over utilized as a coping mechanism, within the family include the creation of a rigid pattern of communication which leaves all individuals incapable to change communication dynamics and therefore retain individual and collective voice in the family system. Studying the phenomena within the parent-parent-child dynamic the effects upon children are often noted as children's emotional and...