ABSTRACT
A family is a blending of generational and shared history that provides a sense of belonging, establishes early gender and societal roles, and offers the basis of commonalites as well as uniqueness. Being in a family identifies each individual as having experienced a long history of interpersonal interactions, rules, and expectations. Within these complex subsystems, there are linkages among the members that influence individual expression and either excite or inhibit its output. Each family member is part of these transactional units and provides varying roles within each (Sexton, Weeks, & Robbins, 2003).
