Functional and Dysfunctional Families PDF

# Functional families: ## Introduction - It is also known as healthy families - A functional family can be defined as a family which has a feeling of belongingness, can contribute to their personal self-esteem - Healthy families are always not the perfect family. Sometimes, the families may have...

# Functional families: ## Introduction - It is also known as healthy families - A functional family can be defined as a family which has a feeling of belongingness, can contribute to their personal self-esteem - Healthy families are always not the perfect family. Sometimes, the families may have ## Functional families contd....: - yelling (shout in a loud) - bickering (quarrel) - misunderstanding - tension - hurt - anger, but not all the time ## Characteristics of healthy families ### Accountability- - These families are accountable - They are willing to acknowledge the individual as well as family problems - They will work to resolve those problems ### Laws are open and flexible- - Everyone can make mistakes that means, mistakes are allowed. They can be negotiable - Rules tend to be made explicit and remain consistent for all, but with some flexibility to adapt to individual needs and particular situations - The roles of the family members are open and flexible - One can be spontaneous without fear of shame and judgement ### Individuality - Here, individuality is respected - Each member is encouraged to pursue his or her own interests, and boundaries between individuals are honored ### Needs fulfilled - Here, family needs are met ### Trusting - Trust is created by honesty - Accurate expression of emotions, thoughts, and desires is more important than agreement - So, emotional expression is allowed and accepted in healthy families where the family members can freely ask for and give attention ### Clear and consistent communication - For clear communication, awareness of self and the other as well as mutual respect for each other's dignity is required ### Negotiating differences - In order to negotiate differences there must be the desire to cooperate. - The negotiating differences skill is helpful in creation of intimacy among the members ## Unfolding (Telling) process of intimacy ## Five freedom’s expressed - In order to be fully functional, each human being needs to express freely the five basic powers that constitute human strength. These powers are as follows- - the power to perceive - the power to think and interpret - the power to emote - the power to choose - the power to want and desire - the power to be creative through the use of imagination ### Other characteristics include - Protection against any type of abuses in the family - Children are given responsibilities appropriate to their age # Dysfunctional families ## Introduction - Any condition that interferes with healthy family functioning is called as family dysfunction ## Characteristics of dysfunctional families - Negative patterns of parental behavior tend to exist in these sort of families. These parental behavior try to dominate the children’s lives - The parents blame each other for the problems they encounter. They put on a good front for others and maintain a supply of defenses to cover up their behavior ## Characteristics of dysfunctional families contd.... - Emotions between the parents are broken down and they may relate to the children better than to each other - Triangles are common, in permissive and neglectful parenting styles, dysfunctional families exist ## Causes of dysfunctional families - Deficient - Controlling - Permissive - Neglectful - Alcoholic or abusers parents Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal