Which technique involves identifying patterns in interactions and questioning them to facilitate change?

The technique that involves identifying patterns in interactions and questioning them to facilitate change is circular questioning. This technique is often used in systemic therapy to help clients recognize the dynamics within their relationships. By asking questions that explore these patterns, therapists can help clients understand how their behaviors affect one another and the overall system.

Circular questioning encourages clients to view their situations from multiple perspectives, which can highlight relational dynamics that may have previously gone unnoticed. This process can reveal insights into how family members communicate and relate to each other, thus fostering deeper understanding and promoting change.

The other techniques mentioned serve different purposes. Structural mapping primarily involves analyzing family structures and hierarchies, rather than focusing on the interactions themselves. Projective identification refers to a defense mechanism where an individual projects their unwanted emotions onto another person, which does not directly facilitate change through questioning. Operant conditioning is a behavioral approach that focuses on modifying behavior through reinforcement and punishment, lacking the relational focus that characterizes circular questioning.