The Importance Of Ineffective Communication In A Family

As the family describes how they handle differences and conflicts it would appear as though they generally triangulate in other members instead of working it out with the people directly involved. For example, when Steve and Trudi are fighting, Steve tends to talk the issues out with Melissa versus keeping the conflict between him and his wife. When the siblings argue, Doug usually turns to his mom and Melissa largely brings problems to the dad. There is no direct communication between the two parties with differences of opinion. As the triangulations occur, more conflict ensues. If Trudi and Melissa are fighting and the Melissa triangulates Steve into the issue then Steve and Trudi start fighting. Due to lack of communication skills …show more content…
Those same ineffective communication patterns exist between Steve and Doug. Since Doug tends to side with Trudi, he has said that he “feels obligated to protect her from the emotional abuse.” Steve and Trudi do not work out their issues directly with each other and tend to communicate through Melissa. Over time as the unresolved feelings keep grow the distance between the father and son also increases. Proximity and in terms of closeness, this family is distant from the paternal side of the family. On the maternal side, many extended family members live in a short proximity, but the closeness is fairly distant except between Trudi and her sisters. These sisters are very close and rely on each other for support. To my social work practice I will be bringing my experiences with the effects of communication or the lack of communication on the closeness of family members. I have witnessed first-hand how ineffective communication builds barriers that prohibit family members from being close to one another. Using interventions that help families learn and practice effective open communication skills will be a high priority.
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