Here are some common roles that children play in families:
- The Scapegoat
- Often the first-born child.
- All of the energy within the family is focused on this child and their “problem.”
- Often the “identified patient.”
- The Hero – Makes the family look good to outsiders.
- The Comic – Can offer comic relief in the family when tensions build too high.
- The Lost Child:
- Sometimes known as the “Perfect Child.”
- Gets lost in all the family chaos.
- Seldom make any waves in the family.
- Often overlooked by the parents.
- The Acting Out Child
- Angry child who learns to act out in aggressive ways, both in and outside the family.
- Often diagnosed with a “conduct disorder”.