Family Communication Collage

Morgan Brownlee April 8, 2012

Family Type The family I am about to describe is the family of my fiancée. She was

raised by her mother, lived with her older half-brother and occasionally visited her father, step-mother and two younger half-brothers. She also

considered her older half-brother’s family to be her own.

The Family

The mother, Anna The older half- brother, Tory

Margaret’s father + step-mother

The younger half-brothers

Tory’s father and step mother

My fiancée and I

Family Roles

Anna, provided nurturance and emotional support to both of her children. She worked hard to manage the family and provided individual development.

Tory served as a mentor for his older sister

Margaret, learned from her mother at an early age that education was very important.

Family Communication

In my fiancée's family, they have a pattern similar to the family communication network which is an established pattern for connecting

and communicating with members of the family. Most of them communicate through face to face interactions and/or sit down meals. But

a majority of their communication is over the phone.

Family Conflict

Humor plays a large role in the way the family communicates with each other. Each family member uses it to their advantage; especially when dealing with conflict. If there is some type of conflict with any member, they get it out in the open, resolve

the issue and laugh about it later.

Family Typology

My fiancée's family is low-conformity and high conversation which makes them a pluralistic typology. They have open-communication style and

emotionally support each other.

Family Rituals Each year, the family

gathers for Christmas, Thanksgiving and other

holidays. Baking Christmas cookies is the mother’s

favorite tradition.

Family Decision-Making

YES! NO!

Since my fiancée was raised in a single-parent home, the mother, Anna was the primary decision maker. Although the mother made the final call, there was a lot of talking and negotiating back and forth which

made decision-making fair and balanced.

Definition of Family

I asked my fiancée about her definition of family, she said :

“Although my family has many

odds/ends, we work together quite nice and we love each other. We have fun no matter what the situation calls for and

we always know when to laugh!!!”