Using a family systems and a multigenerational, developmental framework, this text highlights the challenges faced by contemporary families as they move through the life course. Family Interaction offers a comprehensive overview of the major conceptual models that are used to understand the patterns and interactional dynamics that operate in families. It provides readers with an overview of the basic tasks that all families must execute regardless of their particular composition or living situation and, at the same time, offers readers an appreciation of the varied and unique ways each family develops its patterns of interaction. As with every edition, this text has been thoroughly updated, including new research on parent-child relations, adolescent adjustment, couple communication, divorce, and conflict resolution.