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The correct understanding of family structure involves the organization of a family system, including roles, relationships, and interpersonal dynamics that can be observed within the family. While family structure encompasses these elements, it does not specifically relate to the invisible set of rules governing interactions.

The invisible set of rules defining interactions among family members is better described through the concept of family dynamics. Family dynamics focuses on the patterns of relating, communicating, and behaving shared among family members, which includes both the explicit and implicit rules that guide these interactions. This encompasses the emotional exchanges, communication styles, and behavioral expectations that often operate beneath the surface of family relationships.

While subsystems refer to smaller units or groups within the family (like parent-child or sibling relationships), and boundaries pertain to the rules that govern the separations between family members or external systems, these concepts do not specifically capture the essence of how these invisible rules shape family interactions as effectively as dynamics. Thus, family dynamics most accurately defines the unseen mechanisms and rules steering the interactions among family members.