Family Psychology in the Age of Neuroscience: Implications for Training

Advances in neuroscience, defined broadly as the study of the nervous system, have the potential to expand our understanding of the complex, recursive relationships between neurobiological systems and social/relational context. Yet there has been little attention to the implications of this expanded systemic paradigm for training of family psychologists. Key findings and concepts in neuroscience that have implications for professional practice in family psychology are genotype-environment interplay, functional brain activity associated with emotion and behavior, and neuroplasticity. We discuss the implications of advances in neuroscience for conceptualization of 2 core competencies in family psychology, case conceptualization and intervention, and we suggest specific recommendations for family psychology training.