Dysfunctional Family Essay

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In today’s society, a dysfunctional family is a concept that is taken lightly, because our society has been desensitized to it, and we have become so numbed by the idea. There are children who suffer greatly because of the families (or parents) who raised them. A dysfunctional family is defined as a family that encounters “problems that tend to be chronic and children [who] do not consistently get their needs met” (Benton). This includes negative, abusive, addicted, and neglectful parents. Individuals who are raised in a dysfunctional family can be impacted psychologically in many ways, such as participating in crimes, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse. An accurate portrayal of how a rough childhood can forever affect a child and those around …show more content…

Their perspective and values, their decisions and behaviors, their character and their enthusiasm. This also applies to children. As children grow up in a harsh environment, they adapt and observe their parents’ actions, and most feel obligated to do the same. Others, just watch or experience it and allow it to affect them. “Neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse have profound immediate and long-term effects on a child’s development” (Becker-Weidman). As a result of the abuse, “children are likely to experience anxiety issue (2 times the average), major depressive issues (3.4 times the average), alcohol abuse (2.5 times the average), drug abuse (3.8 times the average), and antisocial behavior (4.3 times the average)” (Becker-Weidman). Statistics show that because of the neglect “80% of maltreated infants exhibited attachment issue symptoms” (Becker-Weidman). In Gone Baby Gone, Helene has not raised her daughter, Amanda, and has not cared for her like most mothers do. During the time of Amanda’s kidnapping, Helene was at the bar with her friends instead of taking care of her Amanda while claiming she was visiting her friend next door. Angie and Patrick found out that she lied about her location, since “Helene knew it looked bad enough that she left her kid in the first place. If the press or the cops knew she was actually ten blocks away at a bar and not next door, it would look even worse” …show more content…

Each family is a different case; however, one thing is for sure, we are humans. We are all fallible. Most think that a dysfunctional family is any family that has trouble co-existing in the same house. While that is correct, we don’t fathom the concept that even single mothers/fathers, controlling parents, and deficient parents are also categorized as dysfunctional families. According to Ten Serious Effects of Negative Parenting - and the Science Behind Them, Doctor Klebanov makes it clear that research has proven “when a parent's behavior does not create a loving, supportive environment, a child’s brain develops in altered form” (Klebanov). This eventually leads to a child growing up with physiological

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