A healthy family exhibits its strength in how well both interaction and individual development take place. Because people change and grow, family dynamics continually evolve, as well. Creating effective standards and boundaries requires that roles within the group be established, but allowed the flexibility to change.
To determine whether a family practices healthy habits, periodic assessment is a good idea, say human development specialists Rick Peterson and Stephen Green of Virginia Tech. This opens the door for effective communication, a catalyst for progressive family relations.
Boundaries
Family roles are determined by life stage but must be willingly accepted in order for responsibilities to be fulfilled. Parents and grandparents must accept the duties of managers and teachers, and children must understand that the family depends upon their abilities to learn and perform maintenance tasks. Living within such boundaries is necessary for healthy family relations.
These individual boundaries, Peterson and Green say, should be augmented by shared responsibilities, such as child care and cooking. The abilities to form clear expectations of individuals as well as to work as a team are characteristic of strong family dynamics.
Mutual Respect
When people follow through on their obligations, an atmosphere of mutual respect is created. The University of Southern California (USC) Center for Work and Family Life calls mutual appreciation a healthy habit that nourishes unconditional love. Despite individual preferences and differences, respectful family relations serve to foster support and encouragement when they are needed.
To teach respect, the Center suggests avoiding double standards, being consistent in discipline and insisting on civil exchanges. One good rule is for family members to treat each other as they would a guest, suppressing anger or impatience with diplomatic speech. Expressing politeness and praise are important healthy habits in building family dynamics.
Communication
Family roles should not hamper open communication. Regardless of station, each member can expect to have her views heard but should not require unquestioning agreement. USC notes that conflicts can be settled through compromise or by the parents enforcing established family rules. Communicating should be a healthy habit, not one that elevates individual desires above the group's.
When everyone is accountable to the same system, communication becomes a means to adapting to changes in family dynamics. Members who need help feel free to ask for it. The Mayo Clinic points out that parents may have to encourage less assertive family members, in a way that won't pressure them, to speak up. This fosters self-esteem and personal growth, and strengthens respectful and supportive family relations.
