The 10 main causes of a toxic home
Parental styles and family dynamics influence the well-being both present and future of the members of a family . The family is one of the most important socializing agents in the development of a person, if not the most.
- Recommended article: "Toxic mothers: 12 attitudes that make children crazy"
Main causes of a toxic home
Households in which there is an equilibrium benefit the mental health of its members, but this is not always the case . There are unstructured homes that cause upheavals and great discomfort to their members. Below you can find a list of the main causes of a toxic home.
1. Addiction
Parents are the main socializing agents of children, from birth until they become adults. They are role models and are necessary especially at early ages and, therefore, a good parental style will positively affect the development of a child.
Although there are many parents who give everything for their children, this is not always the case. Some have harmful behavior not only towards their person, but also towards the family environment . Addiction is undoubtedly one of the worst evils that a human being can suffer, which also affects the whole family that lives with an addict (whether to gambling or drugs).
An addicted father will cause financial problems for the family and constant conflicts. And the consequences in the family are numerous, for example, domestic violence or poor parental education.
2. Bad communication
Communication is key in any relationship, be it a couple, friends and parents to children. The correct expression of feelings and needs, listening correctly to the needs of children or being clear when explaining the reasons for some family rules influence the climate that can be lived in a family. Bad communication not only creates conflicts, but also makes their solution difficult.
3. Excessive control
Excessively controlling parents cause serious problems for the children and make it difficult for the couple to interact . And the controlling parenting style employs very strict rules in the family, fostering obedience and decreasing the welfare of the members. In the case of parents, this style of parenting can manifest itself, for example, when they do not let their children go to school events, nor do they let them assume responsibilities appropriate for their age. They are usually parents who instill fear in the other members of the family so that they obey them.
4. Abuses
Abuses do not have to be physical, but they can also be psychological . For example, by insulting, manipulating or verbally belittling other family members. Abuse is one of the worst family behaviors, which make families dysfunctional.
5. Lack of consistency in the rules
As I have said, parents are role models in the family, and when they do not comply with the rules, children will hardly do so. It is important that there is consistency when it comes to demanding that children who comply with certain rules . For example, if adolescents in the family are asked not to use a mobile phone at the table, it is not good for parents to be the first to be all the food hooked to the mobile device.
6. Perfectionism
Excessively perfectionist parents create dysfunctional families, because the expectations they have about what the family is and what it should be are not realistic. Perfectionism is not positive at all, neither at a family nor at an individual level.
- Related article: "Perfectionist personality: the disadvantages of perfectionism"
7. Overly demanding parents
And perfectionist parents are usually very demanding , which makes their children feel a great frustration when they do not get what they want. The low tolerance to frustration is characteristic of people with low emotional intelligence and those who enjoy a low level of well-being.
8. Authoritarianism and low tolerance
Authoritarian parents make their children behave in a certain way without taking into account their needs and emotions. They tend to be people who are not very tolerant and inflexible and make other members of the family feel bad. They are prone to aggression, and are characterized by fostering a dysfunctional parental style.
9. Unkind families
We humans need affection and we need to be loved , especially by our family. When this does not happen, psychological problems can be devastating when having close relationships with other people. In these cases, the emotional effect of family members and their well-being will also be. Proper communication of emotions and displays of affection are necessary for a home not to be toxic.
10. Excessive protectionism
However, the excess of affection is not beneficial, because it can create weak personalities as well as the excess of protectionism . The spoiled and overprotected children become people who lack coping skills and problem solving.
You can read our article "Overprotected children: 6 educational mistakes that hurt them" to know more about this phenomenon.
