Communication accommodation theory and communication theory of identity: Theories of communication and identity

When we think of family, the idea of a close-knit, homogenous group often comes to mind. Sentimental images and media portrayals typically convey family as a group of individuals with shared values, attitudes, and beliefs. Moreover, popular discourse remains nostalgic for an off-base notion of how families “used to be” (Coontz, 2000), promoting an idea that the ideal family eschews difference for the betterment of the collective whole. In actuality, our family experiences are quite different from these idealized perceptions. Even in close and cohesive families, individual family members bring their own experiences and worldviews to their familial relationships and interactions. Families certainly (attempt to) construct a shared family identity by promoting and socializing-explicitly and implicitly-what it means to be a member of a family, including expectations for our behavior. However, we also recognize that individual family members are unique and, as such, communication in family relationships is inherently tied to the different identities in play.