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In Reply to: What about functional family? posted by Question on September 15, 2003 at 18:12:29:
These roles develop as a way of coping with the alcoholic or almost any sort of irrational parental behavior. Certainly, children growing up in more functional families can adopt similar roles as a way of coping with stressors within the family system, but the roles probably would not be played out in such an exaggerated and stylized manner.
Healthy family systems don't compel its children to adopt a limited set of coping styles (roles) in order to compensate for the power imbalance created by the alcoholic parent. Healthy family systems don't create overly stylized coping strategies for the children to play out as a way to take care of themselves.
By definition, a healthy family is able to meet the emotional, social, psychological needs of its members in a manner that fosters maturity and authenticity.
