Family Tendency: What It Is & How It Differs From Family Traits

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An old saying, ‘Like father, like son,’ reflects the family tendency concept quite well. A family influences one’s personality and is the backbone of every individual, and the family traits explain a person’s thinking and behavioral patterns. Hence, having some knowledge about family tendencies can help you predict or analyze people’s idiosyncrasiesⁱA peculiar trait or a behavioral pattern unique to an individual. , and it even helps you anticipate the diseases one is experiencing. Keep reading the post to get an insight into this concept.

What Is Family Tendency?

The family tendency is the behavioral and responsive pattern of a particular family and lineage. It is the inclination of all members of one family towards certain things, beliefs, and actions. Usually, eating habits, lifestyle, routine activities, outlook on space, religious orientation, materials, and contemplation are the or similar in one family (1). Also, family tendency influences a child’s  developmental domain as individuals learn to behave according to their environment (2).

The family tendency can influence a person’s life and personality in many ways (2) (3) (4) (5):

• The characteristic way of thinking, judging, attitude, and norms.

• Even if one decides not to repeat their family tendency, they instinctively repeat the same cultural perspective and responses.

• Every family has its distinctive characteristics, dynamics, motives and mindsets, influencing young members’ outlook on themselves and the world. Some influence is helpful, and some are detrimental to one’s behavior, relationships, and perspective.

• Economic factors also impact the family tendency. For example, a family that barely meets the necessities can develop a tendency of starving or a preference for low-priced accommodation and are prone to malnutritionⁱA condition which occurs when the body fails to get sufficient nutrients due to improper diet or other medical conditions. and diseases.

• Family tendencies bound individuals from personal habits, anxious behaviors, professional and occupational inclinations to volunteering for events, owning pets, and health issues.

It’s said that “you are what you eat.” Similarly, you may become a person as your family tends to be. Though in some exceptional cases, individuals develop bad habits or criminal attitudes due to the effect of social or bad company (6).

Family Tendency Examples

Family tendencies can be positive or negative. Let’s consider some examples of family tendencies to understand the concept better.

1. Learning and education

The influence of parents on children regarding academic achievements is immense (7). Educated parents tend to choose better schooling for their children, helping them make better decisions. Also, if a family is good at Mathematics, it is likely for a child to be good too. Similarly, if a family is into singing, the chances of children being into music are bright. However, there are exceptions to every case.

Even research indicates that children with a strong family background are more active in school and have fewer chances of suspension. For example, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, children coming from families having married parents showed better 33.7% involvement in school activities than the 25.7% recorded for children living with a single parent. Similarly, children with married parents were less likely to be suspended than those living with guardians or a single parent.

Child wellbeing indicators depending on the family structure

Source: The Link Between Family Background and Academic Success; Institute of Family Studies/US Census Bureau

2. Food preferences

Some families have a predilection for oily and sweet foods rich in fat and sugar content, leading to obesity in every family member. Such a tendency makes the family prone to habit-induced diseases. To overcome these family tendencies, an individual may have to work hard. Some families are extremely health conscious and follow a strict diet and meal plan, which runs with every member.

3. Language

Children from a household where only one language is spoken may find learning other languages difficult. Similarly, when there is the use of bilingual languages in the family, members tend to use words from both languages, which becomes their family tendency.

4. Manners and etiquettes

Some spoken and unspoken norms and customs in families become a part of their culture. These norms are reinforced over how family members dress, speak, and act. Families have regulations for behaviors proposing actions allowed and forbidden for situations. These learned manners and etiquettes guide the individuals to behave in specific scenarios (3).

5. Traditions

Traditions are followed in families for generations. Each family has its own unique ways of celebrating and upholding customary practices that are integral to their familial heritage. The execution pattern becomes the characteristic of families and becomes a family tendency (3).

6. Lifestyle

Some health-conscious families may tend to get up early in the morning, do exercises or yoga, consume healthy food, and keep the house and the surroundings clean. Such families are habituated to the perks of healthy living and have an inherent proclivity towards it. However, it might not be the same trend in every family.

7. Perspectives

Some families may tend to earn more and be in power. Some families are content with whatever they have and do not strive to take up challenges or risks. These characteristics could be found in the young members naturally.

8. Nationalism and political tendency

Attitudes towards citizenship and beliefs influence one’s political views, nationalism, and patriotism. Hence, it becomes a family tendency until a member has different opinions (8).

9. Broken family

Members of a broken family may have commitment and trust issues in their relationships. Children of such families may suffer from stress, depression, frustration, and inferiority complex (9).

10. Abusive nature

Some families tend to verbally or physically abuse females and children. Such tendencies or temperaments have a profound impact on children in their growing age. They may radiate the absorbed negativity in the form of disrespectful behavior or may have low self-esteem, feelings of abandonment, anxiety, and anger (10).

11. Beliefs and taboo

The tendency of conservative nature and thoughts run in families. They may have taboos like restrictions on women’s clothing, educational decisions, and the careers of individuals. Strict rules and regulations with adamant behavior can turn a home into a sophisticated prison, where only a key person of the family makes decisions for all. Growing up in such an environment may tend to have orthodox beliefs, expecting the society to accept their beliefs (3).

Difference Between Family Tendency And Family Trait

The family tendency is about the habits and behavioral patterns of a family. On the other hand, family traits are usually genetic, hence inherited (11). For example, having blue eyes is a family trait, and sleeping late at night is a tendency.

Modern luxurious lifestyles with minimal physical exertion can be responsible for lifestyle diseases, but hereditary conditions such as blood pressure or thyroid are family traits (12). An illness or condition present in one family member, having no genetic predispositionⁱIncreased likelihood of a person to develop a particular disorder due to genetic factors. , affects every family member due to the family tendencies. The family tendency is learned and acquired, unlike the genetic family trait. For example, extreme anger or hardcore criminal mentality could be due to family tendencies (13).

Illustration: Family Tendency: What It Is And Common Examples

Delve into sociology’s family definitions, diverse family types, and marriage across societies. Check out this video to explore residential and descent patterns, plus three schools of thought on marriage and family’s societal roles.

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