Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

family will be able to lose all connections to the family itself. Besides, the family will have had an impact
on members that will affect them even if they leave the family of origin and cut all ties.
Understanding the definitions presented about the family and their obvious limitations will help in
understanding of the usefulness of this new definition. Too often, definitions of the word “family” have
been so narrow in scope that only some families were studied, and thus the research into the family came
from only a very narrow and rigid perspective. Defining what constitutes a family is a difficult task, but
without a clear definition, the study of family communication cannot be done effectively.
Two communication researchers, Jack M. McLeod and Steven H. Chaffee, found that most models
of families relied on dichotomous ideas (e.g., autocratic/democratic, controlling/permissive, modern/
traditional). 14 Instead of relying on these perspectives, McLeod and Chaffee realized that family
communication happens along two different continuums: socio-orientation and concept-orientation. In a
series of further studies, David Ritchie and Mary Anne Fitzpatrick identified two family communication
15, 16
patterns: conformity orientation and conversation orientation.
To McLeod and Chaffee, (conformity oriented) families are indicated by “the frequency
of (or emphasis on) communication that is designed to produce deference, and to foster harmony and
pleasant social relationships in the family.” 17 Families high in socio-orientation tend to communicate a
similarity of attitudes, beliefs, and values. Similarity and harmony are valued while conflict s avoided.
Family members maintain interdependence within a hierarchical structure. One of the authors comes
from a family where similarity and harmony were valued to the extent that any amount of disagreement
was frowned upon. The parents never (literally) argued or disagreed in front of the children. Despite the
desires of her parents, the personalities of the children soon emerged and revealed that neither child
could go along with total similarity and harmony. One child dealt with this difference by learning to keep
his opinions to himself. The other sibling, who happened to be the oldest child, never learned to keep
her opinion to herself. Her communication style simply did not align with the conformity orientation and
friction was the result. You may have similar experiences if your communication style is different from
your family’s communication orientation.
To McLeod and Chaffee, (conversation oriented) families use “positive constraints
to stimulate the child to develop his own views about the world. and to consider more than one side of
an issue.” 18 High concept-orientation families engage in open and frequent communication. Family life
and interactions are perceived to be pleasurable. Self-expression is encouraged when attempting to make
family decisions. Parents/guardians and children communicate in such a way that parents/guardians
socialize and educate their children. Understanding the communication pattern within a family can lead
to the ability to adapt to the family communication pattern rather than consistently communicating in a
manner that is uncomfortable within the family structure.
Four Combinations
Interpersonal Communication 368