Family Roles Exercise

Important. Reflecting on childhood can be triggering. This exercise is an educational tool only and does not substitute therapy. If you experience distress, please close the page and reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your region.
Alternatively, please check the help section for free online resources.

How did your family shape you?

Fifteen questions, about four minutes. Answer for the household you grew up in rather than the one you live in now — the assessment measures the strategy you adapted to, not who you are. Tick every answer that applies to you; you can choose more than one. Family roles are not fixed — most people carry parts of several, and the balance can shift with the room, the relationship or the stage of life. Each question offers three role-typical answers and one that describes a balanced, supportive parent. That last answer is not a trick: it shows how the same situation looks when it is handled well, and it lets a settled upbringing be measured instead of forced into a role.

Treat the result as a prompt for reflection, not a label. It is not a diagnostic instrument and it has no way of knowing the context you grew up in.

Question 1 of 15

    Tick every answer that applies — you can choose more than one, then select Next.

    Where to go next

    The result names a starting point, not a fixed identity. The three child roles are described on the education page, along with the patterns they can leave behind in adulthood and the questions worth reflecting on afterwards.

    You can also see the roles play out in the simulation, or read the support resources if the exercise has brought up something you would rather talk through with someone.