Have you ever noticed certain behaviors and traits run in your family? Maybe your parents are always on time or you and your siblings are all really good at cooking. When it comes to what is family tendency, everyone has different habits that make their families unique.
A family trait is kind of like the DNA for our social identity; how we relate to each other in terms of what we do and what our roles are. There is no one definitive thing that makes a family what it is, but there are many elements of what makes them unique to themselves.
What is a family tendency?
When multiple family members share the same traits we call this family tendency. This tendency may be due to genetics or learned behavior. Examples include diseases that are common in several members of your family, as well as dietary habits that lead to conditions common for others in your lineage.
Behaviors
Family tendencies that are behaviors are things like what your family does when together on holidays, what they do to spend quality time with each other, what chores are performed by whom, and so forth. The way that you get ready for work or school in the morning is a behavior pattern as well.
Behaviors may be learned from observing what others of your family have done before us such as what our parents did with each other.
Traits
Family tendencies that are traits can be what we look like, what color our eyes or hair is, what size of body frame we have, and the type of work ethic we may possess. These behaviors could also include personality characteristics such as being shy around people outside your immediate family versus being outgoing.
A common example is what is called “Handedness” or what we call ‘Left-handed’. It has been found that a family tendency for being left-handed runs in the families of professional athletes such as Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. You can also find this type of pattern with musicians like Jimi Hendrix, who was the most famous left-handed guitarist of all time.
What are examples of family tendencies?
Here are a few examples of common family tendencies.
- eye color
- medical conditions or diseases, like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease
- diet
- to eat meals together
- anxiety
- gender norms
- being shy or outgoing.
- left-handedness
- volunteerism
- attending college
Why do family tendencies matter?
Family tendencies are what make our families special. Family tendencies shape what we do and what behaviors are common among us. These behavioral patterns are what make up our family culture. Family tendencies can also have an impact on the long-term health of each individual in your family when you understand how to dodge certain diseases or what habits lead to chronic problems for others before it is too late.
The Bottom Line
A family tendency can be a behavior, what we look like, what we do when together as a group, or what kind of work ethic you may have. Family tendencies are shared among multiple members of the same lineage and it has been found that some types run in families for certain traits such as left-handedness being more common among athletes and musicians. Understanding what our family tendencies are can make us healthier and happier in the long term.
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