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Toxic family systems are all around us and can be hard to spot. In fact, the system of your family may not be toxic at all. It is easy to get a sense of what makes a family toxic when you realize that unhealthy dynamics exist in any household. Here are ten types of dysfunctional family systems and what they mean for you:
1) The Parental Pyramid
Parents who have kids in their forties and fifties are often at the top of their family’s triangle, but children in their twenties can also find themselves trapped at the bottom with little input on major decisions. Parents who make decisions for their children in the absence of any input from them are not doing right by their kids. These parents tend to believe they know what is best regardless of how much more grown-up and mature they may be than their offspring.
2) The Silent Partner
In a family with only two siblings, one sibling can be made to look equal in size to the other. They may be assigned the same chores or household responsibilities, and they may be given allowances at the same time. When this happens, it can leave one sibling feeling like an invisible main identity compared to their brother or sister. This is the silent partner in a family system.
