Social Work Journal Publications

The Dynamics of a Cohesive Domestic Family in Singapore

Abstract

There has been extensive research and information on family dynamics and interaction patterns. However, this large body of information tends to be more applicable to Western countries such as America, Canada and Australia. Thus, there is really not a "typical Singaporean Family" that can be defined, hypothesized or compared with. In this essay, with the unwilling and unknowing assistance of a family in Singapore, I shall attempt to justify my conviction that families in Singapore can indeed also be better defined.

Method

A deliberate sample of one family, consisting of the father, mother and two daughters, was chosen as research participant for this study. For the sake of unbiased observation that is crucial to this study, participants have not been briefed from start to end.

One Sunday was spent with the family to observe them at home.

Conclusion

From the observation, it would be easy to conlude that the research participants form what we term as an enmeshed family. It should be highlighted that the word "enmeshed" refers to the family being closely knitted and each member understands the others well.

Some of the observations that demonstrate an enmeshed family include jokes, laughters and questions that are heartily exchanged and repeated by the entire family. For instance, the mother was showing visible signs of fatigue and the others in the family were teasing her the entire day for having drank too much wine last night. The whole family, even the observer, were very open to gossips and more jokes on this matter, and it could stretch the entire day.

The family dog is also a crucial sign that indicates the type of family it lives with. The family dog is on very good terms with the whole family and in the late afternoon, there was such an incident that exactly supported this. The dog had left its own feaces and urine all over the house. However, the family mainly laughed at it and mockingly threatened the dog. The dog was evidently not intimidated. The family, and also the observer, then went about cleaning up the whole house of the dog's waste materials.

From the findings stated above, I think it should be evident to any reader that this family involved in the study was a happy, warm family, and fully displayed signs of a cohesive, closely bonded and enmeshed family. There are of course, pros and cons to this family model but since it is not the main concern in this paper, I shall not digress. Basically, I believe there are other different family models in Singapore, but not every one may necessarily exemplify the dynamics of a cohesive domestic family. In conlusion, I would like to stress once again that from the salient points above, I have only illustrated some examples of the dynamics of a cohesive, enmeshed family. Given more time and resources, I would surely be able to give a fuller, more detailed account. In fact, I would like that.