Pathogenic and Protective Relations in Alcoholic Families (I): Development of the Ritual Invasion Scale

ABSTRACT

Family of origin daily routines and celebratory rituals may serve to protect offspring from the harmful effects of parental drinking. However, parental alcoholism may disrupt these positive rituals, and this “invasion” has been proposed as a mechanism for transmitting risk to offspring. This paper describes the development of a “Ritual Invasion Scale” which may facilitate research and treatment applications with these families.