A functional family is defined as one that provides a sense of belonging and self-esteem to its members. While healthy families are not perfect and may experience occasional yelling or arguments, characteristics of functional families include accountability, flexibility, respect for individuality, trust, clear communication, and an ability to negotiate differences. Functional families also allow members to freely express their thoughts, emotions, and desires. In contrast, dysfunctional families exhibit negative parental behaviors, blame, broken emotional bonds between parents, and permissive or neglectful parenting styles that can interfere with healthy functioning.

1. Functional families:
Introduction
 It is also known as healthy families
 A functional family can be defined as a family
which has a feeling of belongingness, can
contribute to their personal self-esteem
 Healthy families are always not the perfect
family. Sometimes, the families may have
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences
(NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

2. Functional families contd….:
- yelling (shout in a loud) ,
- bickering (quarrel),
- misunderstanding,
- tension,
- hurt,
- anger, but not all the time
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

3. Characteristics of healthy families
 Accountability-
- These families are accountable
- They are willing to acknowledge the
individual as well as family problems
- They will work to resolve those problems
 Laws are open and flexible-
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

4. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Laws are open and flexible-
- Everyone can make mistakes that means,
mistakes are allowed. They can be
negotiable
- Rules tend to be made explicit and remain
consistent for all, but with some flexibility to
adapt to individual needs and particular
situations
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

5. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Laws are open and flexible-
- The roles of the family members are open
and flexible
- One can be spontaneous without fear of
shame and judgement
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

6. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Individuality
- Here, individuality is respected
- Each member is encouraged to pursue his
or her own interests, and boundaries
between individuals are honored
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Prepard by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

7. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Needs fulfilled
- Here, family needs are met
 Trusting
- Trust is created by honesty
- Accurate expression of emotions, thoughts,
and desires is more important than
agreement
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

8. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Trusting
- So, emotional expression is allowed and
accepted in healthy families where the family
members can freely ask for and give
attention
 Clear and consistent communication
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

9. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Clear and consistent communication
contd….
- For clear communication, awareness of self and the
other as well as mutual respect for each other's
dignity is required
 Negotiating differences
- In order to negotiate differences there must be the
desire to cooperate.
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

10. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Negotiating differences contd..
- The negotiating differences skill is helpful in
creation of intimacy among the members
 Unfolding (Telling) process of
intimacy
 Five freedom’s expressed
-
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

11. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Five freedom’s expressed contd…
- In order to be fully functional, each
human being needs to express freely
the five basic powers that constitute
human strength. These powers are as
follows-
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Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS),
Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

12. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
- the power to perceive
- the power to think and interpret
- the power to emote
- the power to choose
- the power to want and desire
- the power to be creative through the use of
imagination
12 Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health
Sciences (NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

13. Characteristics of healthy families
contd…..
 Other characteristics include
- Protection against any type of abuses in the
family
- Children are given responsibilities
appropriate to their age
13 Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health
Sciences (NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

14. Dysfunctional families
Introduction
 Any condition that interferes with healthy
family functioning is called as family
dysfunction
14 Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health
Sciences (NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

15. Characteristics of dysfunctional
families
 Negative patterns of parental behavior tend
to exist in these sort of families. These
parental behavior try to dominate the
children's’ lives
 The parents blame each other for the
problems they encounter. They put on a
good front for others and maintain a supply
of defenses to cover up their behavior
15 Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health
Sciences (NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

16. Characteristics of dysfunctional
families contd….
 Emotions between the parents are broken
down and they may relate to the children
better than to each other
 Triangles are common, in permissive and
neglectful parenting styles, dysfunctional
families exist
16 Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health
Sciences (NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal

17. Causes of dysfunctional families
 Deficient
 Controlling
 Permissive
 Neglectful
 Alcoholic or abusers parents
17 Prepared by: Nilu Thapa, Associate Professor, Nepal Institute of Health
Sciences (NIHS), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal