Beyond the Systems Paradigm

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

   PDF

2. The Meaning of Constructs

   • Luciano L’Abate

   Pages 1-16

3. The Decline and Possible Demise of Family Psychology: Families Without Personalities

   • Luciano L’Abate

   Pages 17-25

4. The Decline and Possible Demise of Personality Psychology: Personalities Without Families

   • Luciano L’Abate

   Pages 27-41

5. The (Slow but Sure) Rise of Attachment Theory, Communication, and Relationship Science

   • Luciano L’Abate

   Pages 43-55

6. Relational Competence Theory: Toward a Comprehensive Classification of Human Relationships

   • Luciano L’Abate

   Pages 57-78

7. Conclusion: Identity as an Overarching Construct in Relational Competence Theory

   • Luciano L’Abate

   Pages 79-85

8. Back Matter

   Pages 87-101

   PDF

​This monograph owes its  origins to the decades-old proposal by David Bakan (1968) about the duality of human experience. He proposed that community and agency  would be two necessary and  sufficient constructs  to classify and to encompass most human relationships. This dichotomy  has been found to be valid by a variety of contributions  over the last half a century (L’Abate, 2009; L’Abate, Cusinato, Maino, Colesso, & Scilletta, 2010). Additionally, the purpose of this book is to argue and assert  that two important fields of psychology,  family and personality  psychologies, if not already dead are conceptually, empirically, and practically  moribund. They are  being superseded respectively by perhaps more appropriate, perhaps more specific,  and more likely verifiable concepts and constructs, such as intimacy and identity. The traditional family still conceived as composed by two parents and two children of different gender is esponsible for only one fourth of all domiciles in USA. Singles, same-sex couples, and completely different family organization complete the remaining 100%. Difficulties in defining what is personality require a  change in perspective and advance toward a comprehensive theory of human relationships that can and should fulfill requirements necessary to achieve an undoubtedly  grandiose and ambitious universal status.​ 

• a systems paradigm
• attachment theory
• communication and relationship science
• emerging constructs
• family psychologies
• family psychology
• hierarchy
• identity theory
• personality psychologies
• relational competence theory
• theories of human relationships
• theory development
• traditional family

From the reviews:

“In Beyond the Systems Paradigm: Emerging Constructs in Family and Personality Psychology, Luciano L’Abate proposes that family systems theory and personality theory be integrated in order to create a unifying theory of human relationships. … to those already familiar with and appreciative of L’Abate’s work.” (Nancy Murdock and Christopher Davids, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 58 (48), December, 2013)

• , Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Decatur, USA

  Luciano L'Abate

Since his retirement in 1990, Luciano L’Abate, Ph.D. has been Professor Emeritus at Georgia State University where he was previously a Professor of Psychology beginning in 1965. L’Abate has been an editorial board member of many national and foreign professional and scientific journals, as well as a consultant to various publishing houses. He is the author and co-author of over 300 papers, chapters, and book reviews in professional journals in addition to authoring/editing 34 books. His work has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Finnish, Spanish, French, Polish, and German languages. Dr. L’Abate is the recipient of many awards including "Family Psychologist of the Year for 1994" by Division 43 of the American Psychological Association, "Outstanding Contribution" by the Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and "Outstanding Citizen" by the House of Representatives in the State of Georgia. He has also held workshops and lectured extensively in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Dr. L’Abate has spent the last several years involved full-time in writing and research since his retirement from Georgia State University.

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