Line #112 Main/DysfunctionalFamilyIndex


1	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/big_screwed_up_family.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[ThisLoserIsYou Your typical American family.]]]]
3	->''From now on a household of five will be divided,\
4	three against two and two against three;\
5	a father will be divided against his son\
6	and a son against his father,\
7	a mother against her daughter\
8	and a daughter against her mother,\
9	a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law\
10	and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.''
11	-->-- '''[[Literature/TheFourGospels Luke 12:52-53]]''', ''Literature/TheBible''
12
13	Tropes about family members who just ''really'' can't get along with each other too well.
14
15	Obviously, this is a subcategory of FamilyTropes.
16	----
17	[[foldercontrol]]
18
19	[[folder:General Family Mess]]
20	[floatboxright:
21	'''Main trope:'''
22	+ DysfunctionalFamily
23
24	'''See also:'''
25	+ AbuseTropes
26	+ IncestIsRelative
27	+ MurderInTheFamily
28	+ ThisIndexIsNotLikeHisFamily
29	]
30	* BigScrewedUpFamily: A big family with all sorts of issues surrounding it.
31	* BlackSheep: The one member of the family who is met with disdain by their relatives for being different from the rest of the bloodline.
32	* BlendedFamilyDrama: A family including children from previous relationships struggles to get along.
33	* CannibalClan: A family who [[ImAHumanitarian eats other people]].
34	* CustodyBattle: Conflict ensues when a couple gets divorced and can't agree on who should get custody of the children.
35	* DinnerAndAShow: When a dysfunctional family sits down together for dinner, something's bound to go wrong.
36	* DivineInfernalFamily: Cosmic opposites as family. [[GodKartingWithBeelzebub Sometimes not dysfunctional]], but that's usually the exception to the rule.
37	* DomesticAbuse: Someone physically and/or psychologically abuses another family member.
38	* FamilialBodySnatcher: A BodySnatcher who only possesses members of their own family and/or descendants.
39	* FamilyDisunion: DinnerAndAShow taken to the next level (involving big events among extended family, such as weddings or funerals).
40	* TheFamilyThatSlaysTogether: An evil family comprised of murderous criminals.
41	* FinancialAbuse: Abusing a family member by controlling their money.
42	* FormerlyFriendlyFamily: Family members were once close, but grew to hate each other.
43	* FreudianExcuse: It's established that a villain (or a {{Jerkass}}) is the way they are because of something bad that happened to them when they were younger. Examples commonly involve domestic abuse or a beloved family member dying in front of them.
44	* GuineaPigFamily: A scientist uses their relatives for (usually unethical) experiments.
45	* HereditarySuicide: Suicide runs in families.
46	* HonorRelatedAbuse: Abuse that is committed in order to enforce a twisted code of personal honor/pride, and to punish those who are perceived to be violating it.
47	* HonorThyAbuser: A character learns to forgive and respect their abusive relatives, usually their AbusiveParents.
48	* InbredAndEvil: Being born of incest leads to immorality.
49	* IncestantAdmirer: When incestuous attraction is ''[[AbhorrentAdmirer not]]'' [[AbhorrentAdmirer reciprocated]] in the slightest.
50	* IntrafamilialClassConflict: Class conflict between relatives.
51	* ItRunsInTheFamily: Craziness or weirdness runs in the family.
52	* KidsVersusAdults: A well-known conflict in many families, either between siblings, between parents and kids, or with extended family.
53	* KinslayingIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Killing a family member is seen as particularly heinous.
54	* NotBloodNotFamily: A character is denied as being family due to a lack of biological relation.
55	* OnlyCaresAboutInheritance: A character only cares about a family member's death because it will get them an inheritance.
56	* PlayingTheFamilyCard: A character uses family ties to manipulate someone into helping them.
57	* ProdigalFamily: Estranged family members show up to complicate a character's life.
58	* RoyalInbreeding: When royalty and nobility only marry within their class, it may eventually lead to a smaller gene pool and twisted family trees.
59	* RoyallyScrewedUp: Dysfunctional dynasties; royal families who don't get along well.
60	* StepServant: The character is made a servant/slave to the rest of the family.
61	* TreatedWorseThanThePet: Someone's status in their family is so low that even animals are treated better or valued more than they are.
62	* TroubledAbuser: The abuser bullies their family members because they were also abused themselves.
63	* TitanomachyRoundTwo: Someone's trying to free Cronus, Zeus's dad, to take Zeus out. Regular culprits tend to be Zeus's brothers, his wife, or a son.
64	* VicariousGoldDigger: A character pushes their relative to marry for money instead of respecting the relative's wishes.
65	* VillainousIncest: A villain has sex with a blood relative to show how evil and disgusting they are.
66	* VillainousLineage: Villainy runs in the family.
67	* WhiteSheep: The one decent member of a family otherwise composed of scoundrels.
68	[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Lovers and Spouses]]
71	[floatboxright:
72	'''See also:'''
73	+ DysfunctionalRomanceIndex
74	+ TheExIndex
75	+ InfidelityIndex
76	]
77	* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: Forcing someone to marry another person whom they'd rather not want to spend the rest of their lives with.
78	* AwfulWeddedLife: Both spouses are miserable together.
79	* BlackWidow: A woman who marries men so she can eventually kill them.
80	* TheBluebeard: A man who marries women so he can eventually kill them.
81	* ContraceptionDeception: One partner deceives the other about their ability to conceive children. Can be considered rape by fraud.
82	* {{Cuckold}}: A man who is being cheated on by his partner and probably knows, but can't/won't do much about it.
83	* ADeadlyAffair: An extramarital affair results in the murder of one or more person(s) involved or affected by it.
84	* DeadSparks: The couple loved each other once, but now just stay together out of complacency.
85	* DestructiveRomance: A romantic relationship is unambiguously toxic for the people involved (not always outright [[DomesticAbuse abusive]] but still unhealthy).
86	* DivorceAssetsConflict: A divorcing couple fight over their property.
87	* DivorceRequiresDeath: Someone tries to end their marriage by either killing their [[TilMurderDoUsPart spouse]], or [[DrivenToSuicide themselves]] (or [[MurderSuicide both]]).
88	* AFamilyAffair: A character cheats on their spouse with someone their spouse is related to (such as their spouse's sibling).
89	* FetishizedAbuser: A person abuses their lover and is made to look good doing it.
90	* FoolishHusbandResponsibleWife: A wife is smarter than her husband.
91	* FootDraggingDivorcee: One spouse doesn't want a divorce.
92	* GoldDigger: Marrying someone just to gain access to their wealth rather than love.
93	* HappyMarriageCharade: The married couple pretends that they're happy together to throw other people off.
94	* HenpeckedHusband: A submissive husband allows his bossy wife to constantly nag at and order him around.
95	* {{Kichiku}}: MediaNotes/AnimeFanspeak for a male FetishizedAbuser.
96	* KichikuMegane: MediaNotes/AnimeFanspeak for a male FetishizedAbuser who wears glasses to indicate that he is smart, sophisticated, and successful.
97	* LazyHusband: The husband is very reluctant to do anything his wife asks of him.
98	* MaritalRapeLicense: The belief that it is okay to force one's wife or husband into having sex, regardless of whether they consent or not.
99	* MarriedTooYoung: A couple gets married young and faces relationship problems as a consequence of not waiting until they've matured enough.
100	* TheMasochismTango: A couple who frequently alternate between being affectionate and fighting (essentially BelligerentSexualTension, but with the tension already resolved).
101	* OldManMarryingAChild: An elderly man marries a young girl.
102	* ParentingTheHusband: The wife caters to every whim of her [[{{Manchild}} immature husband]], treating him like he was her child.
103	* PsychoExGirlfriend: A crazy former girlfriend/wife (or boyfriend/husband) out for revenge.
104	* RomanticizedAbuse: Domestic abuse is made to look more attractive than it really is.
105	* SecretOtherFamily: A character has a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin secret second family]] the other family knew nothing about.
106	* SerialSpouse: A person has married and divorced multiple times.
107	* SexlessMarriage: A married couple who don't have sex, which often causes problems in their marriage.
108	* ShotgunWedding: When an accidental pregnancy leads to a reluctant (if not forced) marriage.
109	* SteppingStoneSpouse: A partner sacrifices for their spouse only to be left behind when fortunes increase
110	* TilMurderDoUsPart: Someone plans to kill or has killed their spouse.
111	* ToiletSeatDivorce: A couple divorce over a [[FelonyMisdemeanor trivial reason]].
112	* UnholyMatrimony: Marriage between two evil people.
113	* UnwantedSpouse: Their spouse is stuck being married to them even though they don't love or necessarily even ''like'' them.
114	* WidowMistreatment: When someone dies, their spouse is treated worse by their family.
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Parents and Offspring]]
118	[floatboxright:
119	'''See also:'''
120	+ ChildAbuseTropes
121	+ OrphanedIndex
122	+ ParentalIssues
123	]
124	* AbandonedWarChild: Children who were fathered by a disappeared soldier during wartime. They either live with a single mother or perhaps they have become orphaned by her as well.
125	* AbusiveAlienParents: Extraterrestrials are shown to be worse at raising their offspring than humans are.
126	* AbusiveOffspring: Children who are abusive towards their own parents.
127	* AbusiveParents: Parents who act cold and cruel towards their children.
128	** PimpingTheOffspring: Parents who allow their children to be sexually exploited for personal gain.
129	* AdultsAreUseless: Parents are too stupid, apathetic, or oblivious to do anything helpful when their children are in trouble.
130	* AdoptionAngst: A character has issues with their parents because they were adopted.
131	* AffairBlameTheBastard: Taking out your anger from your spouse's infidelity on the bastard child born of said infidelity.
132	* AlcoholicParent: People don't tend to be good parents if they are drunk on booze most of the time.
133	* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Parents who have a tendency to (accidentally) humiliate their kids in public.
134	* AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: When it's not exactly obvious if someone's parent(s) are around or not.
135	* AntagonisticOffspring: A person who antagonizes their parents.
136	* AnticsEnablingWife: A wife who lets her husband work out his plans despite telling him they won't do so well.
137	* ArchnemesisDad: Abusive fathers.
138	* AwkwardFatherSonBondingActivity: A father tries to bond with his son, but it doesn't end well (often because the father forces the son into an activity he has no interest in).
139	* BastardAngst: Children born to unmarried parents can suffer difficult lives for various reasons. May sometimes overlap with ParentalAbandonment.
140	* BastardBastard: A person who is a bastard in both senses of the word (i.e. he was born out of wedlock ''and'' he's a jerk).
141	* BetrayalByOffspring: Someone backstabs their parents.
142	* BrattyHalfPint: An obnoxious child who may act rude or ungrateful towards their parents (and also their siblings or other family members).
143	* BrattyTeenageDaughter: A teenage girl who acts rude or ungrateful towards her parents.
144	* BreakingTheCycleOfBadParenting: Someone tries to avoid making the same mistakes that their parents made while raising their own children.
145	* BoyfriendBlockingDad: A father who is overly controlling of his daughter's love life.
146	* BumblingDad: The father of the family is a complete moron.
147	* CallingParentsByTheirName: A child addresses their parents by their given names, often as a sign of disrespect.
148	* CallingTheOldManOut: When children call out their parents for their actions.
149	* CallingTheYoungManOut: When parents call out their children for ''their'' actions.
150	* ChildByRape: A child from forced conception.
151	* ChildSupplantsParent: A child intends to supplant their parent.
152	* ChocolateBaby: A child doesn't quite look like one or both of their parents, suggesting that their real parent is someone their other parent cheated with.
153	* DaddyDidntShow: A parent fails to show up for a child's special event.
154	* DelusionsOfParentalLove: A child is [[AbusiveParents abused]], [[ParentalAbandonment abandoned]], or [[ParentalNeglect neglected]] by their parents, but insist that their parents really do love them despite their mistreatment.
155	* DisappearedDad: A character's mother is present, but not their father.
156	* DisinheritedChild: A parent leaves their child out of their will, ensuring that their child doesn't inherit jack squat when they die.
157	* DisneylandDad: Type II; absentee parent tries to buy their offspring's love with expensive gifts rather than show them actual affection.
158	* DisownedParent: A child disowns their parent.
159	* DoesntKnowTheirOwnChild: A parent barely understands anything about their kid's personality.
160	* DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff: A character (usually a parent) spanks a kid.
161	* DumbassTeenageSon: A teenage boy who acts stupid or ungrateful towards his parents.
162	* ElderAbuse: Someone abuses their parents or other older family members.
163	* EmancipatedChild: A child legally "divorces" themselves from their parents.
164	* EvilMatriarch: Abusive mothers.
165	* FantasyForbiddingFather: The parents frown upon their children pursuing interests and goals that they do not see as matching their idea of a proper future.
166	* GlorifiedSpermDonor: When a man abandons the mother of his child soon after impregnating her.
167	* GrandparentFavoritism: These grandparents love their grandchildren... because they're more likable or superior to their own children.
168	* GruesomeGrandparent: Parental abuse, but it skips a generation.
169	* HandsOffParenting: Parents who are ''very'' irresponsible when it comes to raising their kids.
170	* HatesTheirParent: When a child hates or dislikes their parents for some reason.
171	* HelicopterParents: When a parent is overly involved in their children's lives, often micromanaging their activities and social life, to the detriment of the child.
172	* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: A character is shown to have a ludicrously rough childhood for BlackComedy purposes.
173	* IHateYouVampireDad: An [[TragicMonster angsty vampire]] hates the person who turned them into one (who may be a [[ParentalSubstitute parental figure]], or even their actual parent).
174	* IHaveNoSon: A child gets disowned by their parents.
175	* InadequateInheritor: A child's or heir's worthiness of inheritance is questioned by their elders.
176	* JealousParent: A parent competes with their child for their spouse's attention.
177	* JunkieParent: Parents who are addicted to recreational drugs are often shown as being irresponsible.
178	* KnightTemplarParent: Parents who go to ridiculous extremes to defend their offspring from people and situations that they believe to be harming them.
179	* LoveObstructingParents: The parents disapprove of their child's choice of romantic partner, and so they try to split them up.
180	* MaternalDeathBlameTheChild: A child is blamed for their mother's DeathByChildbirth.
181	* {{Matricide}}: Killing one's mother.
182	* MiddleChildSyndrome: The middle child is unable to get as much affection or attention as their older and younger siblings.
183	* MissingMom: A character's father is present, but not their mother.
184	* AMistakeIsBorn: A child is regarded as a "mistake" (i.e. accidentally and/or regretfully conceived) by one or both parents.
185	* MyBelovedSmother: A mother who is clingy, controlling, and overbearing to their children.
186	* NewParentNomenclatureProblem: A child is unsure what to call their new step/adoptive/newly discovered parent.
187	* NotActuallyHisChild: A man finds out his child is not biologically his.
188	* NotoriousParent: A parent runs away from their offspring because they are a fugitive criminal wanted by law enforcement.
189	* OffingTheOffspring: A parent kills their own child or children.
190	* ParentalAbandonment: One or both of a character's parents are absent from their kid's life, whether due to that parent being deceased, missing, divorced, separated, or even having intentionally abandoned their family. May sometimes overlap with BastardAngst.
191	* ParentalBetrayal: A character is betrayed by their parent/parental figure.
192	* ParentalFavoritism: Parents have one child they like more than the others.
193	* ParentalIncest: Sex or romantic relationship between a parent and a child.
194	* ParentalMarriageVeto: They try to discourage their kid from marrying a fiancé(e) whom they dislike.
195	* ParentalNeglect: Parents who tend to ignore their kids' emotional needs, and don't seem to care much about whatever happens to them.
196	* ParentalSavingsSplurge: A character's parent uses up all or most of the money that was supposed to be for their child (e.g. college fund).
197	* ParentalTitleCharacterization: What you call your parents indicates your relationship with them.
198	* PaterFamilicide: Someone kills their entire immediate family (spouse and children) and then themselves in a MurderSuicide.
199	* {{Patricide}}: Killing one's father.
200	* PervertDad: A father who is sexually abusive towards his daughter (or son).
201	* PushoverParents: Parents who are easily manipulated into letting their children have their way.
202	* RacistGrandma: An elderly relative (often, though not always, a grandparent) who causes drama by spouting bigoted views, especially with the younger generations.
203	* ResentfulGuardian: They really regret having to raise a kid.
204	* SafetyWorst: Parents go overboard keeping their child safe, stopping them from having fun or being independent.
205	* SelfMadeOrphan: Someone murders their own parents.
206	* ShedTheFamilyName: A character stops going by their family name, usually because they're disowned by their family.
207	* SingleMomStripper: A prostitute, stripper, or other sex worker does this job in order to feed her child(ren).
208	* SonOfAWhore: Someone born from a [[SingleMomStripper prostitute]].
209	* SpoiledBrat: A child who is rude and obnoxious because their parents give them whatever they want, whenever they want.
210	* StrictParentsMakeSneakyKids: Parents who are over-protective or too strict with their children simply make them better at hiding secrets.
211	* StrugglingSingleMother: It's much more difficult to raise a child [[DisappearedDad without their father]].
212	* ToughLove: Parents treating their children harshly in order to make them better.
213	* TrophyChild: A child who is treated as a status symbol by their parents more so than a person.
214	* TroubledChild: Abuse and/or neglect doesn't do wonders for a kid's well-being.
215	* TheUnfavourite: A child who is ignored and neglected by their parents in favor of their siblings.
216	* UnpleasantParentReveal: Discovering an AwfulTruth about a parent or parents.
217	* UselessBystanderParent: A parent who does little or nothing to protect their child from abuse by the other parent.
218	* WantedAGenderConformingChild: Parents take issue with their son or daughter not conforming to traditional gender stereotypes.
219	* WantedASonInstead: A parent is disappointed when their new child isn't a boy (or more rarely, a girl).
220	* WellDoneDadGuy: A father who wishes his son would respect him.
221	* WellDoneSonGuy: A son who wishes his father would respect him.
222	* WhereDidWeGoWrong: Parents wonder if their child turned out poorly (or poorly in their eyes) because of the way they raised them.
223	* WhyAreYouNotMySon: When a parent (unfavorably) compares their own child not to their sibling, but to that child's ''friend''.
224	* WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent: When parents are disappointed that their kids failed to live up to their expectations of them.
225	* WickedStepmother: Abusive stepmothers (or stepfathers) mistreating their spouse's biological children from another marriage.
226	* WifeHusbandry: Adopting a child for the purpose of marrying them when they're old enough.
227	* YoureNotMyFather: A character tells a parent/parental figure that they're not their parent.
228	[[/folder]]
229
230	[[folder:Brothers and Sisters]]
231	* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: A younger sibling who bothers their older sibling by being annoying.
232	* BigBrotherAttraction: A girl is attracted to her older brother.
233	* BigBrotherBully: An older sibling who picks on their younger siblings.
234	* BrotherSisterIncest: Sex or romantic relationship between siblings.
235	* CainAndAbel: Brothers who don't get along well.
236	* CainAndAbelAndSeth
237	* DisappointingOlderSibling: A character who is seen as a letdown by their younger sibling, often for being a bully, irresponsible, etc.
238	* DisownedSibling: One sibling disowns the other.
239	* EvilBrunetteTwin: An EvilTwin who is dark-haired while the good twin is light-haired.
240	* EvilTwin: A wicked twin sibling who antagonizes their brother or sister.
241	* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: One sibling is responsible and cares about doing the right thing, while the other one is a lazy slacker who gets into trouble.
242	* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: Sisters, one smart and one pretty, who don't get along well.
243	* HalfSiblingAngst: The fact that you only share one parent with them makes it more difficult to get along with them.
244	* InfantSiblingJealousy: Feeling annoyed that your cute baby brother/sister gets all of your parents' attention.
245	* KnightTemplarBigBrother: Older siblings who go to extreme lengths to protect their younger siblings.
246	* LittleSisterHeroine: A female character whose relationship with her older brother (or a brother-figure) has incestuous undertones.
247	* ResentfulOutnumberedSibling: Someone dislikes that they are the only brother or sister in the family.
248	* SiblingMurder: Killing one's own brother or sister.
249	* SiblingRivalry: Siblings who don't get along well.
250	* SpartanSibling: A character who is unsympathetic to their sibling's struggles and expects them to fend for themselves.
251	* SuccessfulSiblingSyndrome: Someone feels overshadowed by their sibling's achievements.
252	* {{Twincest}}: Twins have sex or they are romantically related.
253	[[/folder]]
254
255	[[folder:Extended Family and Other Relatives]]
256	* ClashingCousins: A conflict between cousins from different sides of the family. May overlap with FeudingFamilies if the families are big enough.
257	* CreepyUncle: An uncle who has an incestuous interest in his niece or nephew.
258	* EvilNephew: A wicked nephew/niece who antagonizes their uncle/aunt.
259	* EvilUncle: A wicked uncle/aunt who antagonizes their nephew/niece.
260	* IllegalGuardian: A [[ParentalSubstitute parental figure/guardian]] with not-so-benevolent intentions towards the child they're looking after.
261	* KissingCousins: Incest between cousins.
262	* MeetTheInLaws: Drama and conflict arising from having to meet your significant other's family.
263	* ObnoxiousInLaws: Hostility between a married person and their spouse's relatives.
264	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DysfunctionalFamilyIndex