The important thing to remember in all the above is that an awareness of fractal geometry and self-similarity can give us an understanding of how hidden, difficult to observe, (maybe even invisible) connections and associations create predictable patterns beneath the unpredictability that we come up against in our daily lives.
When considering the family whose existence we might describe as chaotic, chaos theory would propose that the minute-to-minute encounters, events, incidents, crises etc. can never be precisely anticipated.
Yet, beneath the surface of the ongoing chaos will lurk that difficult to observe, (or possibly invisible) order that determines the general, long term patterns of behaviour.
And, I’ll mention once again – because it is so important – the existence of the invisible order will also propose that it is not one big traumatic event, (e.g. one-off abusive incident, death of a parent etc.) that makes the difference, (important as a traumatic event will be) it is the innumerable and consistent feedback that takes place over many years.
The point for practitioners to note here is, of course, that the healing of trauma will not involve one big generous gesture, or one brilliant intervention, but consistent, less notable but more significant (in the long term) warm and loving experiences over a long time.
Just like what would be happening in a healthy extended family!