Which term encompasses family roles such as family hero, mascot, scapegoat, and lost child?

• A. Dysfunctional Family Roles
• B. Stages of Family Response to Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• C. Identification
• D. Relapse Prevention Program

Answer: (A)

These roles describe dysfunctional family roles—the patterns family members adopt to cope with ongoing chaos in a household, especially in families affected by substance use. The family hero tries to keep things together and present an image of success; the mascot uses humor to defuse tension; the scapegoat receives blame for the family’s problems; and the lost child withdraws to avoid attention. This umbrella term captures how these recurring roles help maintain a fragile balance, even as dysfunction persists. The other options describe processes or concepts that don’t name these typical familial patterns: stages of family response outline reactions to abuse, identification is a psychological process of adopting another’s traits, and relapse prevention focuses on staying sober rather than family roles.