Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

To further explain the
concepts of socio- and conceptorientations,
Jack M. McLeod
and Steven H. Chaffee broke
the combinations into four
specific categories (Figure 11.2).
Consensual
The first family communication
pattern is the consensual
family, which is marked by
both high levels of socio- and
concept-orientation. The term
“consensual” is used here
because there is a tendency in
these families to strive for or
have pressure for agreement
between parents/guardian
and children. Children are
encouraged to think outside
the box as long as it doesn’t
Consensual
High
Protective
Low
impact the parents/guardians’
power or the family hierarchy.
However, “These conflicting
Concept-Orientation
pressures may induce the child
to retreat from the parent/
guardian-child interaction. There
Figure 11.2. Family Communication Pattern
is some evidence of ‘escape’ by consensual children, such as strikingly heavy viewing of television fantasy
programs.” 19
Protective
The second type of family communication pattern is the protective family, which is marked by high levels
of socio-orientation and low levels of concept-orientation. In these families, there tends to be a strong
emphasis on child obedience and family harmony. As such, children are taught that they should not
disagree with their parents/guardians openly or engage in conversations where differences of opinion may
be found. McLeod and Chaffee noted that parents/guardians strive to protect their children from any
kind of controversy, which may actually make them more vulnerable to outside pressures and persuasion
because they have not been taught how to be critical thinkers.
Pluralistic
Socio-Orientation
High Low
Pluralistic
Laissez-faire
The third type of family communication pattern is pluralistic, which is the opposite of the protective
family and marked by high levels of concept-orientation and low levels of socio-orientation. In these
families, “The emphasis in this communication structure seems to be on mutuality of respect and
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Interpersonal Communication