Family interaction patterns among Japanese-American and Caucasian families in Hawaii

The authors compared the family interaction patterns of Japanese- American and Caucasian families in Hawaii by rating videotapes of structured family interactions. There were significant differences between the two groups in many aspects of family interaction, such as power, coalition, closeness, negotiation, clarity of self-disclosure, responsibility, invasiveness, affect, and empathy. The differences in family interaction could be explained by the cultural differences between the two groups and indicate that profiles of healthy families differ between distinct cultures, and there is a need to establish a culturally relevant family interaction profile; otherwise normal interactions in families outside the mainstream could be misinterpreted as pathological.