Comparing family members’ perceptions of the family

Abstract

Family organization has arguably a determinative role in our healthy social-emotional and cognitive development, although we may have different perceptions of this system. Its background is in connection with the family members’ different experience, knowledge and beliefs about the world. Furthermore, we are also prone to imagine others’ mental representations that can help us to understand them better. Sometimes these meta-representations may be more accurate, while other times they may be incorrect. Although theories of mind tasks are well-known tools to explore (meta-) representations, the use of Gehring's (2010) Family System Test (FAST) in this way is less tested. The aim of this study was to compare the family members’ perceptions of the family with one another. Children's and parents’ family images were explored. In line with Smith, Myron-Wilson and Sutton's (2010) previous findings, my results confirmed the parents’ increased ability to assess the children's perceptions. Finally, growing theory of mind abilities may also be in the background of the results above (Happe, Winner and Bownell, 1998). Subsequent studies have to broaden the focus and involve more methods, age groups in the investigations to know more about human cognitive processes.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.