The term family has many different definitions but is usually used to describe a unit composed of parents, caretakers, siblings, or other individuals who played a significant role in a person’s upbringing. Family of origin, another term referring to the immediate and extended family a person grows up in, is responsible for teaching an individual important information about who they are, how to act, and what beliefs and values to adopt. Additionally, the family of origin may also pass down cultural [Page 626]traditions, practices, behaviors, and genetics that contribute to the makeup of an individual. The intention of this entry is to discuss family-of-origin topics relevant to the field of marriage and family therapy. These include, but are not limited to, intergenerational transmission of relational ...