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Understanding Family Roles and Norms

Family roles define how members interact and maintain balance in the family system. Common roles include the hero, rescuer, mediator, black sheep, switchboard, power broker, lost child, clown, cheerleader, nurturer, thinker, and truthteller. Sex roles refer to behaviors and attitudes considered acceptable based on gender, such as men as breadwinners and women as mothers. Family norms establish expectations for how the family lives and makes decisions together, providing clarity while shaping identity and communication.

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Ralph Torres
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360 views10 pages

Understanding Family Roles and Norms

Family roles define how members interact and maintain balance in the family system. Common roles include the hero, rescuer, mediator, black sheep, switchboard, power broker, lost child, clown, cheerleader, nurturer, thinker, and truthteller. Sex roles refer to behaviors and attitudes considered acceptable based on gender, such as men as breadwinners and women as mothers. Family norms establish expectations for how the family lives and makes decisions together, providing clarity while shaping identity and communication.

Uploaded by

Ralph Torres
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Family Roles, Family Sex

Roles and Family Norms


What is a Family Role?

A family role is a position one has within the family household.


One's role encompasses how much power the individual holds within
the family system and their responsibilities, as well as their impact on
other family members. 
  Family roles shape how we interact with each other in the family
system. At times, these roles function to create and maintain a balance
in the family system. Family roles have positive and negative aspects to
them.
Common Family Roles

• Hero – This is the “good” and “responsible” child. This person is a


high achiever, carries the pride of the family, and he/she
overcompensates to avoid looking or feeling adequate.
• Rescuer – Take care of others’ needs, and emotions, and problem-
solves for others in the family.
• Mediator – Can be a rescuer-type although he/she works to keep pace
in the family system.
Common Family Roles

• Black sheep - This is the person the other family members feel needs
the most help. Usually, this is the family member in need of treatment
or in treatment.
• Switchboard – Central information center of the family. 
• Power broker – Works at maintaining a hierarchy in the family with
him/herself at the top.
• Lost Child – The lost child is the subservient good child. He/she is
obedient, passive, and hidden in the family trauma.
Common Family Roles

• Clown – Uses humor to offset the family conflict and to create a sense
that things are okay.
• Cheerleader - Provide support and encouragement to others.
• Nurturer - Provides emotional support, creates safety, is available to
others, and can be a mediator.
Common Family Roles

• Thinker - The thinker provides the objective, reasoning focus.


• Truthteller - This person reflects the system as it is. At times, the
challenge is how that information is relayed. Other members of the
family might be offended or avoid the truthteller because of the power
of the truth he/she holds. 
Sex Roles

• Also known as Gender Roles is a social role encompassing a range of


behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable,
appropriate, or desirable for a person based on that person's sex.
• Talcott Parson's theory that men and women perform their sex roles
men as breadwinners and wives as mothers.
Family Norms

•  Involve all the ideas of how you want to live your family life, and
they are often passed down from previous generations. They can help
define behavior in various situations, help youth make good choices,
and solidify the bond that your family has. If your family doesn't
already have these values in place, know that it is never too late to
make a list.
Why are Family norms Important?

• They guide family decisions

• They provide clarity and structure

• They help your family achieve a sense of identity

• They improve communication among family members


Types of Family Norms

• Relationship with others

• Relationship with each other

• Relationship to oneself

• Priorities

• Dealing with Challenges

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