ABSTRACT
Each context within a family creates a set of expectations as to how one should behave within that context. Family members are very quick to perceive which particular context they are in at any particular time. Contexts can be created ®rstly by who is present, so, for example, if a mother and father are having a discussion about how to decorate the bathroom the children may recognise it as being an `adult conversation' in which they have no invitation to contribute. They may then just ignore what goes on. The children here can be said to be following a family rule about not being involved in particular types of conversations that their parents may have.
