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Northern Arizona University *

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200

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Communications

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Apr 29, 2024

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pdf

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3

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Sarah Wilkinson Family Communication Patterns Theory The Family Communication Patterns Theory, created by Ascan Koerner and Mary Anne Fitzpatrick (Griffin et al. 82), analyzes how families communicate within their members and how it affects family members outside of the family. Family Communication Patterns Theory suggests that family communication can be categorized into two main dimensions: conversation orientation and conformity orientation. Conversation orientation refers to the degree to which families encourage open and frequent communication, while conformity orientation pertains to the extent to which families prioritize uniformity of beliefs and attitudes. Based on these dimensions, Family Communication Patterns identify four communication patterns: consensual, pluralistic, protective, and laissez-faire (Griffin et al. 85). These patterns reflect different combinations of high or low levels of conversation and conformity within families, thereby shaping communication styles, decision-making processes, and overall family cohesion. Consensual family patterns consist of high conversation and high conformity orientations while pluralistic families have high conformity, but low conversation orientation. Protective and Laissez-Faire families have low conformity, but protective families have high conversation and laissez-faire families have low conversation. The Family Communication Patterns Theory gives insight into the complexities of communication within families and their impact on individual development and functioning. Looking at my own family’s communication patterns, I find that it seems to have changed over time. This could mostly be accounted for by age gaps between my older siblings and I and my younger sister. I remember my older siblings and I growing up within a Consensual communication style. My family would sit around the dinner table and discuss different topics. Open dialogue has always been a huge part of my family so there is no doubt that I grew up in a family with a very high conversation orientation. This communication pattern fostered a sense of closeness and mutual understanding, laying the foundation for strong familial bonds. Within the Consensual framework, conformity played a significant role. Although there was a lot of room for my siblings and I to express ourselves, there was still an implicit expectation for us to conform within our parent’s ideals. This is most likely attributed to my family’s culture as many asian households hold conformity to a high standard. This created a mostly harmonious atmosphere, although as my older siblings and I grew older, we began to become a bit more defensive towards our parents. Usually, children who grow up in a Consensual communication pattern aren’t defensive towards their parents (Griffin et al., 87). However, I’d say my siblings and I most definitely had our rebellious phases. When my younger sister entered the picture, I believe our family’s communication patterns changed. With an eight-year age gap between her and us, my younger sister experienced a slightly different family environment—one that could be described as exhibiting a more Pluralistic communication pattern. While elements of the Consensual style remained, there was a noticeable shift towards greater acceptance of diverse viewpoints and less pressure for
conformity. I noticed this as my little sister seemed to be less conforming than when I was her age. It may just be a case of different personalities, but I also believe that her openness may be a product of my family’s communication style changing. In a Pluralistic communication style, there is still a high conversation orientation, much like the Consensual communication pattern. However, a Pluralistic framework embodies individual autonomy and less conformity (Griffin et al.85). I believe that my family’s transition from a Consensual communication pattern to a more Pluralistic communication pattern is due to my older siblings and I growing up. As mentioned earlier, my siblings and I naturally did defend ourselves when needed from our parents, unlike many children who grow up in a Consensual communication environment. I think that because we continued to defend ourselves, we began to assert our own identities while challenging the conformity of the Consensual communication pattern that was already established within the family. As time passed and we grew into our own shoes, I believe our individualistic identities also affected how my little sister grew up. As she became surrounded by a family that grew less conforming, she also experienced growing up in a Pluralistic communication pattern. My parents' approach to parenting may have evolved over time, influenced by their experiences raising children. With my younger sister, they may have adopted a more lenient stance, causing her to grow up in a lower conformity environment. I find that the four types of families based on family communications patterns sets a good template for families, but after different instances and time, these patterns may fuse with other family types, creating a hybrid. Not all families fit the cookie cutter shape within each family type, so it would be beneficial to see how some families may change over time. I also believe it would be interesting to see how different generations under one roof may coexist as communication patterns could change over time.
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