: Common drivers include sibling rivalry, parental favoritism, betrayal, inheritance disputes, and the struggle for individual identity against family expectations . Common Tropes in Storylines
: Many interactions follow a framework where members cycle through roles as victim, rescuer, or persecutor . : Common drivers include sibling rivalry
: Families naturally have power imbalances (e.g., parents vs. children, financial dependence), which can be used to instill ethics or, conversely, lead to control and conflict . parents vs. children
Complex family relationships in fiction and real life often pivot around high-stakes emotions because members cannot easily walk away from each other . create "inscrutability" in relationships .
: Differences in values or worldviews between parents and children, often compounded by immigrant backgrounds or past family secrets, create "inscrutability" in relationships .