Family myths

We have all, at one time or another, felt locked into a particular pattern of relating to others despite our conscious wish to do otherwise, and often we have wondered how, having grown up in the same family, siblings could turn out so very differently. In Family Myths, Joyce Block explores how and why our families unconsciously construct identities for us which then shape our images of who we are and what we are destined to become. The family Brain and the family. Comedian, the Wild Child and the Sensitive Plant, the Mama's Boy and the Prodigal Son are but a few obvious examples of the characters that families create and then use to enact a particular family drama. But the curtain doesn't fall when we leave home; on the contrary, the performance is a continuous one, for we seek out and find new partners with whom we can live out our myths. Basing her analysis on her clinical experience with individuals and families, Dr. Block. Challenges the notion that we are simply passive victims of our childhood. Without assigning blame, she exposes the personal investment we have in sustaining these false identities, even as she provides the encouragement to let go of them. These personal myths need not continue to limit our potential and influence relationships with our parents, mates, children, and friends. Family Myths is an invaluable guide to breaking the spell that keeps us frozen in time and. Reviving the real self that is hibernating within.

Year

1995

Language

English

Publisher

Fireside

Editions

1

Pages

288

ISBN

9780684802435

Data source: Wikidata