Some have the misfortune of finding themselves in toxic and dysfunctional families, but family systems, though imperfect, generally provide many psycho-social benefits for their members. One way in which their influence is expressed is the effect they may have upon the attitudes, values, personalities, perspectives, and political views of members. Research suggests that the closer the emotional connection, the stronger this influence is. When we understand this effect, it may empower us in our management of family relations, adjusting the degree of our emotional engagement, and perhaps also the nature, frequency, and duration of our time together, to best manage and maintain our own chosen views on things. It’s not that we cease to love our families, nor that we become closed to their helpful influences, but that we recognise the importance of thinking things through for ourselves rather than simply adopting
the views of others.