1. Dysfunctional Families

2. Dysfunctional Family Defined
Members relate to one another in destructive and irresponsible ways
A family that lacks the skills to be successful and function in healthful ways
A family in which conflict, misbehavior and even abuse on the part of individual members of the family occur continually and regularly, leading other members to accommodate such actions.

3. What are the characteristics of a dysfunctional family?

4. Dysfunctional Family Characteristics
Chemical Dependence
Other addictions
Perfectionism
Violence
Abuse
Abandonment
These are SOME aspects of a dysfunctional family
With bad qualities like these, families can deteriorate and children can crumble with them

5. Chemical Dependence Obtain and use drugs
Children have a higher risk of becoming a drug user
What can drug use lead to in a family? Children and parents
Cause changes in thinking and behaving
More violence
More sexual abuse
Why do you think that children are at higher risk to become a drug user

6. Other Addictions Eating disorders Exercise Gambling Shopping
Television
Thrill-seeking
Work-a-holism
Perfectionism
Ask the students how some of these addictions might not seem like an addiction but can hurt the family members
Can they think of any more?

7. Perfectionism
Parents are overly critical of themselves and their children
Children feel inadequate and insecure
Behavior is self-destructive and harms relationships
You can become a perfectionist too
Do you feel pressure from your parents?
What types of behaviors can pressure from your parents lead to?

8. Violence Controlling Keep peace by avoiding disagreements
Between violence, family member may be kind, gentle, and apologetic
Thus, children blame themselves—NOT YOUR FAULT
At risk of becoming juvenile offenders
Have you (as JMU college students) experienced during student teaching, students who show any signs of violence in the home? Examples? What should you do if you suspect a friend or student is being abused?

9. Abuse What are some types of abuse? Controlling and moody
Children are afraid and confused
Want to feel loved
Deny feelings about abuse
Cover up abuse
Blame self
Believe they deserve to be abuse
YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO BE ABUSED. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!
What are different types of abuse?
Sexual, emotional, physical

10. Abandonment Absence can cause pain, suffering, confusion
Difficult getting close to others
Push away others
Can be overly needy
What do you think of when you think of abandonment?

11. Effects on Other Family Members
How do you think other family members feel in a dysfunctional family?
How does this affect them later on in their life?
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 dysfunctional behavior, either through enabling or perpetuation. The family unit can be affected by a variety of factors.
Children growing up in a dysfunctional family have been known to adopt one or more of six basic roles:[3]
"The Good Child" – a child who assumes the parental role.
"The Problem Child" – the child who is blamed for most problems and can also be responsible for the family's dysfunction, in spite of often being the only emotionally stable one in the family.
"The Caretaker" – the one who takes responsibility for the emotional well-being of the family.
"The Lost Child" – the inconspicuous, quiet one, whose needs are often ignored or hidden.
"The Mascot" – uses comedy to divert attention away from the increasingly dysfunctional family system.
"The Mastermind" – the opportunist who capitalizes on the other family members' faults in order to get whatever he or she wants.
They may also:
think only of themselves to make up the difference of their childhoods. They're still learning the balance of self-love
distrust others
have difficulty expressing emotions
have low self-esteem or have a poor self image
have difficulty forming healthy relationships with others
feel angry, anxious, depressed, isolated from others, or unlovable
perpetuate dysfunctional behaviors in their other relationships (especially their children)
lack the ability to be playful, or childlike, and may "grow up too fast"; conversely they may grow up too slowly, or even be in a mixed mode (i.e. well disciplined, but unable to care for themselves)
often learn to live far away from their families.

12. Healthy Families
What are characteristics of healthy families?

13. Who’s That Family?
Complete the Who’s That Family worksheet! Pg. 3