Juan picks on his little brother, which causes his parents to yell at him. Lately they have to yell a lot to get his attention, and he yells back at them. When they punish him, he behaves for a little while, but soon misbehaves. His parents punish him more. What is the label given to this form of family interaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pattern of Juan's behavior, where he engages in negative behavior, his parents yell and punish him, followed by a brief period of improved behavior before returning to negative behavior, is known as the coercive family cycle. This cycle perpetuates the negative behavior as both the parent and child become more entrenched in their roles.

Juan Picks on His Little Brother, Which Causes His Parents