Dysfunctional Families
There is dysfunction in the family when unhealthy patterns hinder a child from feeling safe, loved and cared for. When these unhealthy patterns result in injury, mental burden and emotional turmoil, it affects a child’s choices in life and how they interact with others. Here are some of the clear signs and behaviours of dysfunctional families.
Control
Parental control is often the most common hallmark of dysfunctional family structures. Parents may constantly compare children with each other, make them compete for love, or pit them against one another. In addition to dependency, lack of privacy is a key element of control.
Studies show that those who reported their parents invaded their privacy when they were young or encouraged dependency were less likely to score well in studies of happiness and wellbeing.
A child who was not brought up to make their own decisions will lack the confidence necessary to excel in the classroom or at work.
Substance Abuse
Families affected by substance abuse and/or drug use tend to establish rules, roles, and relationships centered around the abuse of alcohol and/or other substances.
There are also certain roles that family members tend to play such as enablers and scapegoats.
The enablers do whatever they can to provide a smooth household run, even though substance abuse is taking place. The scapegoat, on the other hand, is a family member who acts out in order to divert attention from problems at home.
Perfectionism
Do you like your mom and dad when they always want you to be perfect? A parent who is a perfectionist might be creating a dysfunctional family. It is very hard for them to accept failure when it comes to their children or family members.
Being too concerned about perfection can result in a reduction in playfulness and knowledge assimilation in children, resulting in a lasting negative effect.
Comments
Share your thoughts
Be the first to let Hello Doctor know your thoughts!
Join Us or Log In to join the discussion