The New Peoplemaking by Virginia Satir. Mountain View, CA: Science and Behavior Books, Inc., 1988. Xiii + 400 pages. $22.50.
As parents of young children we are heavily invested in the business of “peoplemaking.” It is what families are all about. Our expectations for our children and family life are greatly influenced by the relationships we had with our parents. Some of us seek to reproduce patterns from our families of origins. Others attempt to break loose from the noose of childhood experiences of family.
Virginia Satir’s central message is that a strong link exists between life in the family and the health of the children as adults. Since healthy individuals have the capacity to change the character of our society the nurture of healthy families is critical to our society.
Satir convincingly illustrates how high self-worth, direct communication, flexible rules and links to society are crucial ingredients of healthy family life. Parents with high self-esteem have more personal energy and are more likely to nurture children with a strong sense of self. Their communication is more likely to be clear, specific and honest and they tend to modify rules appropriately to keep up to date with their children’s changing needs. Strong connections beyond the family push family members to adapt, grow and mature. She tackles adolescence, marriage and old age to elucidate how these ingredients can specifically impact a person’s life.
Those with a background in psychology will be familiar with Virginia Satir’s pioneering work in the field of family therapy. An internationally acclaimed group leader and family therapist, her previous edition of Peoplemaking sold 700,000 copies and has been translated into 12 foreign languages. The New Peoplemaking, like its earlier edition, is written for a general audience.
The book is full of black and white sketches and captivating metaphors. It is written in an almost conversational manner so the 400 pages whiz by quickly. The positive tone of the book and its optimism about healthy change in families is encouraging, especially for those moments when family life seems challenging and impossible. However, this sugar-sweet tone also detracts from the book’s credibility because it obscures the complexity of life and the fact that change does not come easily. Nonetheless, it is a great way for parents to encounter psychology for the first time and serves as a helpful reminder for everyone of life’s possibilities.