Us humans are creatures of habit. We generally react from old ingrained habits and patterns we acquired from a young age when our ability to relate to others and the world were formed. It is a very rare person who reacts to a given situation or person completely from the present moment (although that would be a very healthy and refreshing thing to do). Therefore, therapists like to look at what may be contributing to the reaction or whatever situation is occuring in the present. That said, sometimes they can go overboard and it's very annoying particularly when the links can't immediately be seen or when they don't seem very relavant.

In as far as causes of disturbance go, there can't possibly be one answer. People from the same backgrounds turn out totally differently. It's a mixture of biological make up, temperament, position in family, treatment by parents and others, ability to obtain social support, even to some extent intelligence and/or creativity. People have different experiences within the same family. Even under extreme abuse some people not only grow through it but inspire others...Louise Hay is a prime example