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A therapist is working with a family in which a child has recently begun exhibiting behavioral problems at school. During sessions, the therapist observes that whenever the parents attempt to address ongoing marital conflict, the child’s symptoms intensify, shifting attention away from the couple’s issues. From a systemic perspective, the child’s behavior is BEST understood as:
a. A sign of unresolved individual pathology within the child that requires individual treatment
b. An attempt by the child to gain attention and control within the family system
c. A homeostatic mechanism that functions to stabilize the family by diverting attention from marital conflict
d. Evidence that the parents lack effective behavioral management strategies for the child