Lesson 2: Psychosocial Causes of Abnormal Behaviour

Family Structure

If a child is from an intact family (both parents or caregivers are present) but one of the adults is dissatisfied with the adult relationship, conflict may arise. This conflict may focus on sexual behaviour (e.g., infidelity), money, values, or work. The frustration may seriously affect everyone in the group relationship because arguing and conflict may be the norm instead of the exception.

Parents can also be irrational, abnormal, or eccentric. One parent, for example, may be trying to deal with an ill partner at the expense of the child. If a mother has bipolar mood disorder, for instance, her partner may be focusing on maintaining his or her own mental health. The partner may then concentrate on ensuring the mother takes her medication and controls her illness. Attention to the child may be a distant third in the list of priorities of the non-ill parental figure. This is but one example of an unhealthy family structure.