The members of a family are characterized by having spent a lot of time together, but that It is not always a guarantee that there is good family communication
So… how can we improve this type of communication?
It is essential to define the term family around which this article revolves. The family is not only a group of people who live together and share blood ties and surnames. It is also more than an organization of individuals who cooperate with each other.
The family must be understood as a community as a group where the relationships between members have a deep emotional character and are what make the difference compared to other types of groups.
From this perspective, emotional reactions in the family context are a constant source of feedback on expected behaviors. In this sense, the family is an element of integration that can create spaces that allow members to development of a relationship of belonging and identification This belonging is neither casual nor temporary, it is essential, since it defines the subject before himself and before society.
Finally, it should be noted that the family is an organization in which its members must share common goals and objectives that generate unity and allow the distribution of functions and responsibilities. It is therefore a team.
Communicative models
The communication models of family members vary. They must be taken into account, since there are important differences of generational origin and this can generate misunderstandings, discrepancies and distancing due to lack of connection and understanding, thus opening a chasm between parents and children.
This may be due, among many other reasons, to the fact that currently the majority of parents who belong to the well-known “baby boom” (1946 – 1964) have grown up mostly with television as media and with the so-called “mass media” (cinema, radio and press). The characteristic of all of them is that the communication style is informative, vertical and one-way, that is, one direction.
Given that different technologies transmit certain values, this generation has acquired the verticality and hierarchical organization of television discourse, acquiring the role of receiver thus getting used to being passive agents in the act of communication.
The Net Generation
For their part, the respective children They belong to the generation of new technologies ; Some studies call it the “Net generation.” People of this generation are able to read visual images (more visually literate), they are able to shift their attention from one task to another, response time is fast, and they are generally curious and independent people.
Although this generation has also grown up relating to the television, their focus of attention is the computer and the mobile phone. In the Internet environment they move like a fish in water, especially on social networks. In these environments, communicative discourse is horizontal, multiple-way, active and immediate
The impact of new technologies
We live daily with an endless number of devices that allow us to communicate with those who live far away but who, in turn, They can distance us from the people we are closest to And we have all experienced scenes in which several family members remain engrossed looking at a screen without saying a word, thus worsening interpersonal relationships.
Dialogue is important in interpersonal relationships and even more so in the family. Communication helps us establish contact with people, to give or receive information, to express or understand what we think and to transmit emotions. Ultimately, communication unites and links us through affection and empathy
Of course, there is no basic rule for family communication. Each family is a world and has a unique language. However, to improve communication or generate fluid communication between its members and given the generational difference, it is advisable that there is will, interest and availability mainly on the part of the parents, with the aim of creating communication experienced intensely by all.
Improve family communication
What can we do to improve communication in the family nucleus? To shorten distances between different generations and improve communication and ultimately coexistence, we can apply the following strategies.
1. Moments without technology
It is important to mark several times throughout the day in which devices should not be used Those moments that take place around the table (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner) are ideal for promoting fluid communication.
2. Shared leisure
It is important to look for moments in which you can share entertainment It can be something as simple as watching a movie that is suitable for all members of the family. This generates unity, not only physical but also experiential, thus avoiding the isolation of family members in different rooms. We thus encourage a possible dialogue or debate regarding the shared film.
3. Encourage dialogue/debate
It is essential to take advantage of shared moments to exchange impressions, ideas and opinions on a topic that arouses interest. Promote participatory dialogue of each of the members It is vital, always respecting the different contributions and allowing spaces of trust, security and belonging.
It is important to show interest in each member of the family asking how your day was or what is worrying you and/or happening. In this way we encourage direct, personal, human communication and greater knowledge of the personal situation of each family member.
Family is essential and fundamental and, therefore, knowing each other’s concerns is essential to building a family united by affection and getting to know each other very well.
