Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) National Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-In-One Guide for Your Exam Success!

The interaction between Marianne and Jill during their argument about dating is best described as triangulation. In family systems theory, triangulation occurs when a third party becomes involved in a dyadic relationship, often as a way to stabilize or defuse tension between two individuals. In this scenario, it's likely that Marianne and Jill are not only addressing their own feelings about dating but are also bringing in other influences, such as opinions from friends, familial expectations, or even past relational experiences, which can complicate their dynamic.

Triangulation often manifests when individuals feel uncomfortable directly confronting the issues at hand, leading to the involvement of additional parties that can either support or exacerbate the conflict. This dynamic can create confusion and may shift focus away from the core issue of their disagreement. Understanding triangulation in this context helps to illuminate how external factors influence personal relationships and communication patterns.

The other terms, while relevant in different contexts, do not accurately represent the dynamic at play in this situation. Emotional cutoff refers to a complete withdrawal from relationships to avoid conflict, which doesn't align with the engagement seen in an argument. Split filial loyalty typically describes a situation where a child feels torn between parents, and object relations focuses on how early experiences with caregivers influence future relationships. Neither of these concepts