In a world of increasing complexity, I propose that the concept of emotional intelligence is limited for understanding how people manage their family relationships and interactions with community systems. I review the background of the emotional intelligence concept and point out its limitations for dealing with multilateral relationships. I define systems intelligence as the capacity to effectively interact in multilateral relationships, including families, work groups, and social institutions. Systems intelligence encompasses the understanding of interpersonal systems, and the practical ability to act constructively in those systems. I also make a distinction between competency in dyadic relationships (relational intelligence) and competency in multilateral relationships (systems intelligence), and I illustrate systems intelligence with respect to stepfamilies and families' relationships with health‐care professionals. A principal implication for the family field is to move beyond a focus on dyads (parent/child and couple) to include multilateral relationships that are intrinsic to family life.

中文翻译：

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系统智能和家庭


在一个日益复杂的世界中，我认为情商的概念仅限于理解人们如何管理家庭关系以及与社区系统的互动。我回顾了情商概念的背景，并指出了它在处理多边关系方面的局限性。我将系统智能定义为在多边关系中有效互动的能力，包括家庭、工作团队和社会机构。系统智能包括对人际系统的理解，以及在这些系统中采取建设性行动的实际能力。我还区分了二元关系中的能力（关系智能）和多边关系中的能力（系统智能），并说明了继家庭和家庭与医疗保健专业人员的关系方面的系统智能。家庭领域的一个主要含义是超越对二元关系（父母/子女和夫妻）的关注，包括家庭生活固有的多边关系。