The Function of Dysfunction
The Function of Dysfunction “Sacramento is dysfunctional” has become a cliché in California. Speaking to the San Francisco Commonwealth Club while launching his campaign for six budget measures on the May 19, 2009 special election ballot, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Our state capital is a town that feeds on dysfunction. The special interests left and right, need the process to be dysfunctional. This is how they control Sacramento. This is how they prevent change.”
The word “dysfunction” is used in different ways, including describing an organ unable to function regularly because of disease, an organization that is failing to perform as expected, and people who do not have the ability to function emotionally or socially.
Schwarzenegger is using the word of the organization, if you can call it that, called the California government. In the process, he makes an interesting observation about dysfunction. He says dysfunction controls and prevents change. George Skelton, writing on Schwarzenegger’s speech, entitled the article, “The Function of Dysfunction.” The function of dysfunction is to control and prevent change.
That applies to other areas of dysfunction. A functional family is one in which the members of the family function in an emotionally mature manner toward each other. Consequently, they know how to relate to each other, empathize with each other, and care for each other. As a result, they know how to relate to those outside the family.
It has been suggested that children who grow up in a dysfunctional family adopt one or more of six roles: “The Good Child” (the child assumes the parental role), “The Problem Child” (the child is blamed for most problems, in spite of often being the only emotionally stable one in the family), “The Caretaker” (the child takes responsibility for the emotional well-being of the family), “The Lost Child” (the inconspicuous, quiet child, whose needs are often ignored or hidden), “The Mascot” (the child uses comedy to divert attention away from the increasingly dysfunctional family system), or “The Mastermind” (the opportunist child capitalizes on the other family members’ faults in order to get whatever he/she wants). (www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Dysfunctional-family, acessed 3/21/09). Did you recognize yourself?
People growing up in dysfunctional families end up dysfunctional individuals. As adults, their dysfunction controls them, preventing them from change, and is used to control situations and people, especially those close to them.
The function of dysfunction may be to control and prevent change, but that does not mean that dysfunction has to control people all their lives. Being aware of what we are doing is a first step out of the control of dysfunction. Focusing on being Christ-like is the next. By the grace of God, we can be functioning, loving, empathic, caring people.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 3/31/2009
The word “dysfunction” is used in different ways, including describing an organ unable to function regularly because of disease, an organization that is failing to perform as expected, and people who do not have the ability to function emotionally or socially.
Schwarzenegger is using the word of the organization, if you can call it that, called the California government. In the process, he makes an interesting observation about dysfunction. He says dysfunction controls and prevents change. George Skelton, writing on Schwarzenegger’s speech, entitled the article, “The Function of Dysfunction.” The function of dysfunction is to control and prevent change.
That applies to other areas of dysfunction. A functional family is one in which the members of the family function in an emotionally mature manner toward each other. Consequently, they know how to relate to each other, empathize with each other, and care for each other. As a result, they know how to relate to those outside the family.
It has been suggested that children who grow up in a dysfunctional family adopt one or more of six roles: “The Good Child” (the child assumes the parental role), “The Problem Child” (the child is blamed for most problems, in spite of often being the only emotionally stable one in the family), “The Caretaker” (the child takes responsibility for the emotional well-being of the family), “The Lost Child” (the inconspicuous, quiet child, whose needs are often ignored or hidden), “The Mascot” (the child uses comedy to divert attention away from the increasingly dysfunctional family system), or “The Mastermind” (the opportunist child capitalizes on the other family members’ faults in order to get whatever he/she wants). (www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Dysfunctional-family, acessed 3/21/09). Did you recognize yourself?
People growing up in dysfunctional families end up dysfunctional individuals. As adults, their dysfunction controls them, preventing them from change, and is used to control situations and people, especially those close to them.
The function of dysfunction may be to control and prevent change, but that does not mean that dysfunction has to control people all their lives. Being aware of what we are doing is a first step out of the control of dysfunction. Focusing on being Christ-like is the next. By the grace of God, we can be functioning, loving, empathic, caring people.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 3/31/2009