Common Roles that Children Play in Families

Here are some common roles that children play in families:

• The Scapegoat

1. Often the first-born child.
2. All of the energy within the family is focused on this child and their “problem.”
3. 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:

1. Sometimes known as the “Perfect Child.”
2. Gets lost in all the family chaos.
3. Seldom make any waves in the family.
4. Often overlooked by the parents.

• The Acting Out Child

1. Angry child who learns to act out in aggressive ways, both in and outside the family.
2. Often diagnosed with a “conduct disorder”.