Family And Communication : The Positive Effects Of Family Communication

I pledge to support the honor system of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the honor system. I will report to Honor Council hearings if I am summoned.” By attending Old Dominion University you have accepted the responsibility to abide by this code. This is an institutional policy, approved by the Board of Visitors.

As we know families as always changing and so are the dynamics. Communication is a transactional process that is changing over time. Two central scopes of family behavior are adaptability and cohesion. Each is divided into four levels to create 16 combinations. Overtime it has changed to fit into cohesion, adaptability and communication.

The ways in which a family communicates messages with each other plays a key role in shaping the lives of each individual family member. Humans have always belonged to and identified with their families even before they could speak or form any other social group. Family members not only rely on each other to be there for emotional and social support, but also shape how individuals identify themselves. Therefore, the quality of family relationships greatly impacts the quality of life for most people. (Koerner & Schrodt, 2014)

People from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways because every family has their own way of communicating together. For example: some children might hear or speak more than one language at home or they could hear others swearing. This can affect children’s communication and how they communicate as adults.

Although families may not always feel this connectedness, it is always there. The emotional climate of the family is interdependent of what is going on in the family as a whole. If one unit of the family is distant emotionally, it can have a great affect on the whole family. These attitudes are reciprocated throughout the entire family. It is important that most family members are able to stay healthy emotionally and have that ability to communicate their feelings to one another. Problems arise when individuals don’t fulfill their roles that are needed from all family members. Michael Kerr, explained this idea in an article he wrote to explain the family system theory. He explained that “heightened tension can intensify these processes that promote that promote unity and teamwork, and this can lead to problems” (Kerr,

There are so many subgroups that each family are categorized as. People could categorize us in different subgroup by ethnicity, race, social class, and religion.These subgroups contribute on how we interpret our beliefs and values with other people. People judge and category people on how they perceive them to be. There are some people who just assume but they don't ask question or they don't ask the right question. Interacting with other gives a different perspective on how you communicate with others. Also, it could change on your family contribute their beliefs and values with other people.

Most familial conflicts can almost always be solved with communication, a seemingly simple idea; yet, society has manipulated this concept into an exceedingly strenuous activity. What makes this task so unbearable and problematic? Is it simply the inability to comprehend and acknowledge human emotion or could it be a deep-rooted fear of unacceptance? Franz Kafka utilizes the profound elements of a nuclear family and alters these stereotypes in order to expose countless faults within a disjointed bloodline in Kafka's novella Metamorphosis.

Every family is different and the same in their own way. Everyone functions with different roles and plays a part in how it functions on the day to day. While some people don’t put much thought into it, Dr. Murray Bowen has. ‘Dr. Murray Bowen suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as part of their family.’ (GenoPro) Eight concepts are

Focus: Samantha’s family will improve communication with peers and authority figures in various settings. Ms. Smalls (MHP), Ms. Smith (MHS) and Samantha discuss using verbal communication to express emotions.

Family Vision: For Tina comply with parental directives/rules, learn how to express feelings appropriately, improve decision making skills and improve relationship among family members.

Some of the major concepts behind Communications Theory are clarified in the following five categories: Blaming, placating, computing, distracting and leveling. Satir developed these categories to better understand the dynamics behind a variety of behavioral styles that can be observable amongst family members. Blamer behavior finds fault and has trouble accepting responsibility. This person is usually blaming someone or something else. The blamer hides a feeling of alienation and loneliness behind a tough and complacent mask and is more likely to initiate conflict. On the other hand,

The few times we did get to spend time together as a family, it wouldn’t feel like it. I knew all the relationships between my family members. I was the one who they told everything to but ask me not to tell anyone. This was a lot of weight on my shoulders because I began caring for everyone else’s relationships; especially my mom’s because my brother and sister would argue

Listening is an essential part of dialogue. If properly exercise, it allows us to absorb information within messages and exchange thoroughly processed feedback. This exchange offers an effective communication between parties. The lack of effective listening results in miscommunication, unessential dialogue and a waste of resources. Here we will discuss the relationship between siblings. The siblings in this case have a long distance relationship. Sibling A is married with no children and sibling B has two children, but is separated from her husband.

My family has always been very close. We spend a great deal of time together and express our deep feelings and emotions with one another. If one of us has an issue, every member of the family is aware of it and shares the burden. When a person in the family does not share significant information about one’s life with the rest of the members, there is hurt feelings. Also, if a member cannot attend a family event, the family feels disappointed and misses the absent member. It is evident that connectedness is held as extremely valuable.

Underdeveloped communication skills is a common thing in today’s generation. Many families do not realize that they have unhealthy communication skills until it is addressed by a professional of some sort. Technology has lead many families in America to believe that the bare minimum, such as calling and texting, is one of the healthiest forms of communicating when it is not. Developing communication skills on a higher level than technology can contribute to building better relationships, better verbal conversations and better mental health overall.