Dysfunctional family

From Freepedia

Dysfunctional family is the term used to describe a family in which conflict, misbehaviour and even abuse on the part of individual members of the family occur on a continuing basis, thus leading other members to accomodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangment is "normal."

Dysfunctional family members have common symptoms and behavior patterns as a result of their common experiences within the family structure. This tends to reinforce the dysfuntional behavoir, either through enabling or perpetuation.

There are common prototypes for dysfunction. Family heads under-function, providing few boundaries and little guidance. Their children are left to fend for themselves. Others are inconsistent or violate basic boundaries of appropriate behavior. Family members may then have profound difficulties both with their own conduct, and their ability to deal with others.

Frequently, the dysfunctional family stems from alcoholism. The problems created tend to be chronic, and are passed down generation to generation. Even if abuse of alcohol ends, the family system created may continue in the children of the children. The effects are on what is often called the inner child (by educators such as John Bradshaw).

In order to survive, children growing up in a dysfunctional family have been known to sometimes adopt one of five basic roles:

1. "The Good Child" – often the family hero who assumes the parent role *
2. "The Problem Child" – the family scapegoat, who also fixes problems caused by other family members*
3. "The Caretaker" – the one who takes responsibility for the emotional well-being of the family
4. "The Lost Child" – the inconspicuous, the quiet one, who needs are often ignored or hidden
5. "The Mastermind" - the opportunist who capitalizes on the other family members' faults in order to get them to do his/her bidding.

See also

• Married... with Children, American sitcom portraying a dysfunctional family