The document provides an analysis of the roles and relationships within the fictional Huxtable family from the television show "The Cosby Show". It describes each family member and their characteristics. It analyzes themes like hard work, achievement, and service. It also examines the marital relationship between Cliff and Claire Huxtable and how they model egalitarian roles and share responsibilities while supporting each other's careers. Conflicts within the family are usually addressed constructively and resolved through consensus and open communication.

1. THE COSBY SHOW
AN ANALYSIS OF THE HUXTABLE FAMILY
BY ANGELINA SIMMONS
Monday, April 11, 2011

2. MEET THE HUXTABLES
Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable- Father and successful obstetrician, Cliff has an office in the basement on the family’s
Brownstone in NYC.
Claire Huxtable- Mother and successful attorney, partner at her law firm.
Sondra Huxtable- Oldest daughter, college student at Princeton University, she is serious and responsible, a typical
eldest child.
Denise Huxtable- Next oldest, she is a popular and creative high school student who goes out on many dates.
Theodore “Theo” Huxtable- Also in high-school , he only son in the family, he often finds himself in trouble for
some mischief or poor grades. He is athletic like his father.
Vanessa Huxtable- An excellent student but nosy second youngest daughter.
Rudith “Rudy” Huxtable- The baby of the family, she is 15 years younger than Sondra, and 6 years younger than
Vanessa.
Monday, April 11, 2011

3. MEET THE HUXTABLES
CONTINUED
The Huxtables are a connected and
flexible family. They are close, and
loyal but celebrate individuality and
they share decision making,
negotiate, and share roles. (p 31)
This family would also be
considered an open family, each
member is “encouraged to seek
outside experiences” and share
their ideas with the family.
Monday, April 11, 2011

4. ROLES
Cliff and Claire share an egalitarian marriage where “both partners wish to jointly share home responsibilities as
well as take advantage of career opportunities. Power is to be shared and each partner strives to maintain a life
balence between career while supporting the other in this effort.” (p. 175)
Each partner takes turns cooking, cleaning, and nurturing the children while supporting each others careers.
Although both have high paying professional careers It is usually Cliff that the children come to for money, and
Claire usually has the last word in regards to discipline.
The Huxtable children are learning these role expectations from their parents modeling. Theo helps make beds,
and Denise mops floors to help out when mom is working late nights on a case.
Monday, April 11, 2011

5. THEMES
“Take out a little, give back a lot.”
Hard work
It is expected that the children do their best in their studies, extra curricular
activities as well as helping out with chores and younger siblings.
Achievement
With mom a lawyer and dad a doctor the expectation of achievement is
implied, however the children are praised for their achievements no matter
how small and larger achievements are celebrated by all.
Service
The Huxtables volunteer at the local community center.
Monday, April 11, 2011

6. INTIMACY
MARRITAL MAINTENANCE
Cliff and Claire engage in many strategies including; posativity, complimenting each
other to show their continued attraction and commitment, task sharing, they are
open, often discussing their relationship in bed at night, and the support each other in
front of their children.
Monday, April 11, 2011

7. RELATIONAL CURRENCIES
POSITIVE VERBAL STATEMENTS, SELF DISCLOSURE, LISTENING, FACIAL
EXPRESSION, TOUCH, FAVORS
Monday, April 11, 2011

8. FORGIVENESS
RUDY BREAKS THE JUICER
Rudy breaks Cliff’s new juicer after he has specifically told her not
to touch it, creating a huge mess in the process
Cliff expresses that he is angry that she did not listen to him and
tells her that her consequence is to clean up the mess that was
made in the kitchen.
When he is done handing out her sentence, he says “case closed”
indicating that the matter is over in his mind, and offers hugs and
kisses to show that all is forgiven.
Monday, April 11, 2011

9. CONSTRUCTIVE CONFLICT
When Claire finds a joint in Theo’s Geography book she
immediately thinks the worse. However when Claire and Cliff
confront Theo, they are calm and firm but respectfull about
their expectations about drug use. They listen to Theo when he
tells them that he honestly has no idea how the joint found its
way into his book.
CONFLICT
DISCONFIRMING MESSAGES
Rudy is calling Vanessa’s name while she is trying to study,Vanessa chooses to
ignore Rudy causing her to continue yelling her name. Denise makes a comment
that the best way to deal with Rudy is to ignore her indicating that this is often a
communication strategy she uses with her. Later, Cliff forgets to call Rudy down
for dinner and Rudy hides in her play house upset. She tells her mother that she
hates being the youngest and that nobody likes her.
FAIR FIGHTING?
Theo puts Vanessa in a headlock because she has put shaving
cream in his shoe but will not admit it. Cliff calmly determines
that Vanessa has done this unprevoked and tells her to go
clean out the shoe.
Monday, April 11, 2011

10. POWER, INFLUENCE, AND
DECISION MAKING
Economic Resources- As mentioned before Cliff controls the children’s monetary
resources however Claire keeps the family’s financial records in order.
Wife Dominant- although Claire and Cliff share roles and responsibilities, in the end
Claire usually gets her way. Claire’s beauty, intelligence, and reasoning skills give her
power over Cliff. She often uses this power to encourage him to lay off junk food and
exercise.
The children use direct and bilateral influence strategies like bargaining, reasoning,
and asking with their parents. Their parents use direct bilateral, and unilateral (telling)
strategies with them.
The Huxtables use a consensus decision-making process they call “Family Forum” as
illustrated in the next slide.
Monday, April 11, 2011

11. SONDRA WANTS TO GO TO PARIS FOR
THE SUMMER
Sondra, home for Thanksgiving, wants to ask her
parents permission to go to Paris with friends
for the summer.
She first goes to Denise for advice on how to
approach their parents.
Denise advises that she go to mom first, and get
her on her side before approaching dad.
Mom, advises that her dad will find many
objections but if she sticks to her guns, she
could wear him down.
When dad will not relent, Sondre and Claire call
a Family Forum where family disputes are
settled. The rules are, everyone gets a vote, and
everyone must be honest.
When it is clear that he is outvoted, Cliff calls a
“Family Caucus” where he and Sondra continue
to communicate each others concerns privately
and he finally gives his approval.
Monday, April 11, 2011

12. WORKS CITED
Galvin, Kathleen M., and Bernard J. Brommel. Family Communication: Cohesion and
Change. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1982. Print.
Seasons 1 & 2, The Cosby Show. By Bill Cosby, Michael Leeson, and Ed.Weinberger.
Dir. Jay Sandrich. Prod. Bill Cosby. NBC. 20 Sept. 1984. Vimeo.
Monday, April 11, 2011