Part one
This scenario can be grouped in the interactional system because; there are aspects of Watzlawick’s axiom of communication. The interactional perspective is used to explain and define communication concepts. The relationship in this family comes out as sick or as not healthy. Sick relationships according to interactional view show signs of constant struggle while the content communication aspect becomes less important. There are a lot of arguments and disagreements on almost everything; between the story teller and the parents and also between the story teller and his sister. In Watzlawick’s interactional perspective, when the axioms are disturbed and the communicators fail to understand each other, then there is miscommunication which is evident in this scenario.
Part two
There are key theoretical issues brought out in the family scenario based on the four axioms of Watzlawick’s interactional theory. Watzlawick’s axiom of communication being equal content plus relationship, this scenario shows that the narrator is self-absorbed and that is why he only cares about his feelings and not of others like his mother. The axiom of one cannot not communicate axiom also brings out an issue whereby the narrator is a heavy smoker which is also another way of communicating as every behavior is a form of communication. The act of smoking is a way of rebelling against what the father wants and also to get attention same as the sister gets. One is that the narrator is at the age where he or she does not listen to the parents especially the mother and wants to be treated like an adult, and so he even wants to be allowed to smoke without being reprimanded, there is also the issue of competitiveness between the two siblings, the narrator and his sister. Punctuation on the communication sequence also brings out the issue of the narrator and the parents especially the mother having different interpretations of the communication. The narrator wants to left alone, while the mother does not want to since she believes it’s in her place to tell him what to do. Communication is complementary or symmetrical axiom also shows issues in the communication of this home scenario since, there is communication between people with differences in power whereby the parents have authority of their children. The narrator feels there is a one-up communication since the parents dominate the communication are oblivious to his needs.
Part three
This new perspective will lead to reframing, since everyone in the family will try to communicate more efficiently with the other members of the family. It will also help the story teller not to expect everything to go his way and get to respect the parents’ ultimate decision. Effective communication will also bring both siblings together as the parents will have equal time for both siblings so that no one feels left out and the family will consequently run smoothly.
