Introduction

Good afternoon! Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s at the heart of our daily
lives and relationships: communication in families. Family is often where our
communication skills are first developed and tested, and it’s also where we
experience some of the deepest connections – and sometimes, the most challenging
misunderstandings.
Before we begin, let me introduce the team who’ll be guiding you through our
exploration of communication in families. Each of us has taken a specific focus to
give you a well-rounded perspective.
First, we have Anh Thy, who will be discussing the definition of family, focusing on
the origin and orientation in family.
Next, Anh Thu will dive into the importance of family communication an family
communication process.
Then, Gia Nghi will explain how two levels of conversation orientation affect
family communication.
And finally, I’m Phuong Uyen, and I’ll be wrapping up by analyzing the other
orientation “Conformity” for all you guys.
Together, we aim to give you a comprehensive look at family communication –
from its foundations to the ways it can grow stronger. Let’s get started
In our presentation today, we’ll explore the essential role of communication within
family dynamics, discussing how it influences everything from relationships and
emotional support to conflict resolution and values sharing. We’ll look at how open,
honest, and empathetic communication can strengthen family bonds, as well as the
challenges families might face when communication breaks down.
By the end of our presentation, we hope to highlight not only the importance of
strong communication but also provide insights and strategies that can help create
healthier and happier family interactions.
Let’s start with a short video about how UEL’s students communicate with family
through a simple interview.
Concepts
Thank for my teammate’s presentation as she said that we have two dimensions
including conversation and conformity. Now, we gonna talk about conformity
orientation in family communication patterns, a concept that helps us understand
how families shape their members' attitudes, values, and behaviors. I’ll explain
what conformity orientation means, provide examples, and show how it combines
with conversation orientation to create four distinct family types.
What is Conformity Orientation?
Conformity orientation reflects how much a family emphasizes uniformity in
beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors. It determines whether a family prioritizes
harmony and adherence to shared norms or encourages independence and
individuality. There are two levels of conformity orientation:
1. High Conformity Orientation:
Families with a high conformity orientation create a climate where children
are expected to conform to established guidelines set by the parents. There is
a strong emphasis on maintaining family harmony, minimizing conflict,
and promoting interdependence. In these families, parents are the primary
decision-makers, and their authority is respected without question. Obedience
is highly valued, and adherence to traditional family structures is emphasized.
In this type of family, relationships within the family take precedence over
those outside.
Example: Imagine a high conformity family that expects children to
obey without question when told to follow specific religious traditions,
family routines, or parental commands, regardless of the children’s
personal preferences or feelings. For instance, if a child expresses
reluctance to attend a weekly religious service, parents may insist,
stating, “This is what our family does,” and expect compliance.
2. Low Conformity Orientation:
On the other hand, families with a low conformity orientation encourage the
development of independent thought and individuality. They are open to
diverse beliefs and viewpoints and value personal autonomy and time.
Members are encouraged to assert their personal values and explore
different behaviors. Instead of enforcing uniformity, low conformity families
 prioritize self-expression and individual growth, allowing family members
to pursue their own interests and relationships outside the family.
o Example: In a low conformity family, a child’s differing viewpoints
might be welcomed. For instance, at the dinner table, family members
may engage in lively discussions on political or social issues, where
everyone is free to share their thoughts, even if they contradict family
norms. Parents respect and value each person’s input, without expecting
everyone to agree.
Family Types Based on Conformity and Conversation Orientation
Now, conformity orientation doesn’t exist in isolation. When we combine it with
conversation orientation, which measures how openly family members
communicate, we get four distinct family types identified by Koerner and
Fitzpatrick (2002):
1. Consensual Families:
High in both conversation and conformity. These families encourage open
communication, but parents maintain control over decisions. While children
are allowed to express their opinions, parents ultimately decide and then
explain their reasoning afterward. There’s a balance between listening to
children’s perspectives and enforcing the family’s shared values.
2. Pluralistic Families:
High in conversation but low in conformity. In these families, open
discussion is encouraged, and members make independent decisions.
Parents do not strive to control behavior but rather value exploration and
personal growth. For example, when a child wants to explore a unique hobby
or career path, parents engage in open discussions and support their decisions,
valuing self-expression over conformity.
3. Protective Families:
Low in conversation and high in conformity. These families emphasize
obedience and respect for authority, with minimal open communication.
Decisions are made by parents, and children are expected to comply without
questioning. If a child asks why they can’t go out with friends, a typical
response might be, “Because I said so.” There is less focus on explaining
decisions or understanding the child’s point of view.
 4. Laissez-Faire Families:
Low in both conversation and conformity. These families have minimal
interaction and communication. Members are largely detached from each
other, and parents show little involvement in their children’s decisions. Family
members often lead separate lives, and there is little investment in building
relationships or setting expectations. For example, a laissez-faire family might
not engage in discussions about important life choices, leaving children to
make decisions entirely on their own.
Questions: Looking at this imagine, which of the following 4 types do you think
your family belongs to and Why? If this question is a bit personal, you can also
give examples that you think are true for each type.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding conformity orientation helps us see how family
communication patterns shape relationships and influence family dynamics.
Whether a family encourages uniformity or celebrates individuality has a profound
impact on how its members interact, express themselves, and develop their
identities.
Comparing
Let’s explore two approaches to family communication: Conversation Orientation
and Conformity Orientation.
In Conversation-Oriented families, open dialogue is encouraged, fostering equality
and confidence as everyone feels free to share their views. This helps build strong
communication skills.
Conversely, Conformity-Oriented families prioritize unity and shared values, often
limiting free expression to uphold family harmony and respect for authority. This
approach strengthens compliance and respect for family norms.
By combining conformity and conversation orientation, we see how these factors
produce four distinct family types—consensual, pluralistic, protective, and laissez-
faire. Both orientations shape family dynamics, balancing individual expression and
family unity.
Video
Now, to bring these concepts to life, we’d like to share a video that highlights one
teenager’s experience with family communication. Through his story, you’ll see
how different communication styles and orientations play a role in real family
dynamics.
After watching this video, we saw how family communication plays out in
everyday life and how it impacts relationships, especially from a child’s
perspective.
Minigame: Go to the end of our presentation, we have a minigame “Bingo” for all
you guys to review many key words in this topic.
Scan the QR on the right and each one has different cards to play. My teammate
Anh Thu will operate this part with you, she will read words by words for you and
your work is just click on the word that you have. The winner will receive a file
summarizing our content to facilitate exam review. If no one can’t win this game,
we will public this file for all you guys here.
Questions
We’ve prepared a few questions to review the concepts we discussed today. Let’s go
over these together to ensure we have a clear grasp of the key ideas.
1) After hearing your answer, I realize that assumptions and time constraints are
bigger barriers than I thought. It’s so easy to assume we know what a family
member is feeling or thinking without really checking in with them. And with
everyone’s busy schedules, making time for real conversations often gets
overlooked. I agree that setting aside dedicated family time and practicing patience
can go a long way. Being more open-minded and empathetic, especially across
generations, seems essential for building stronger connections within families.
2) "Your points about active listening really resonated with me. I hadn’t considered
how much impact simple gestures like nodding, making eye contact, and
summarizing what the other person said can have. It makes sense that these actions
show you’re genuinely interested, which can make people feel valued and
understood. I can see how practicing active listening could build trust in family
relationships, allowing everyone to feel more connected and supported."
3) "Your answer highlighted how openness and honesty really create a foundation
of trust. I hadn’t fully appreciated how powerful it can be when family members
share their true feelings without fear of judgment. The example you gave about
someone expressing feelings of overwhelm really hit home—it’s easy to misinterpret
silence or withdrawal without realizing what someone’s going through. This makes
me think that being honest not only helps with resolving conflicts but also deepens
the family bond by creating a more understanding and supportive environment."
There are some references that we used to create our presentation today, let’s take a
look and you can find more information about this topic on these websites.
Thank you for your attention! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.