"Individuals struggle to position themselves against the conflicting perceptions that coexist in their environment. Internal conflicts inevitably channel into interactions with others, creating communication breakdowns. Interpersonal conflicts increase internal confusion, perpetuating the vicious cycle... The crisis that shakes Greek families today - recognized by experts and non-experts alike - is the confusion of values directly linked to our perceptions of our roles as men, women, spouses, children, and relatives."

From the first edition

"From the generalized sense of deadlock, it seems we are transitioning to a period of seeking solutions. Amid the upheavals of recent decades that have shaken the foundations of Greek society, the family seemed like a building ready to collapse. We had begun to fear that our modern urbanized consumer society would be built on the ruins of family relationships. However, it appears that amidst the confusion and panic caused by the continuous demolitions on the road to prosperity, we had underestimated the resilience, stability, adaptability, and flexibility of family bonds, which once again, as in previous phases of national and social crises, function as a safety net."

From the eighth edition

This book attempts to explain the chaotic intra-family interactions based on the conflicting life models that become entangled within us as our society rapidly transitions from the traditional to the postmodern stage of development.