What was the “form” of your childhood family? What are three key characteristics (e.g., specific behaviors, patterns, traditions, expressions of emotions, values, etc.) of your family culture?

With these thoughts in mind, review pp. 1407–1417 of the article “What is Family Diversity” by Harris and then consider the following questions:

  • What was the “form” of your childhood family?
  • What are three key characteristics (e.g., specific behaviors, patterns, traditions, expressions of emotions, values, etc.) of your family culture?
  • Referring to Harris’ examples of interpretive family diversity: In what ways might people outside your family interpret these unique characteristics differently from you and other family members? Provide at least one example.
  • In what ways has your family culture influenced you?
  • Referring to the article Understanding Families and the six family systems characteristics, (i.e., aspects of family culture, discussed): In what ways do any/all of these characteristics continue to affect you and shape your thoughts about yourself and your interactions with others?
  • What is an example (or examples) of similarity or dissimilarity between your childhood family culture (or your current family culture) and the dominant culture—and in what ways did/do you deal with the resulting feelings of congruence/incongruence?
  • In what ways does your childhood family culture and/or your current adult family culture influence your professional life?
  • Referring to Harris’ examples of “objective family diversity”: What insight(s) offered by these examples provided you with a deeper understanding of family diversity—and in what way(s) will this support your work with children and families?