Common Examples of Family Tendencies & How They Influence You

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Find out how your family affects your current habits and lifestyle

Co-authored by Hunter Rising Reviewed by Allison Broennimann, PhD

Last Updated: June 16, 2025 References

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• Common Examples
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• How Tendencies Influence People
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• Are tendencies inherited?
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• Family Tendency vs. Trait

|Show more |Show less

A family tendency is a common pattern and behavior that members of a family develop a natural inclination toward. Family tendencies shape your decisions and how you act, so understanding them helps you recognize which ones are positively and negatively affecting your life. Every family has unique tendencies that influence them, and we’ll help you understand them even more. Keep reading for the most common examples of family tendencies, how they may affect you, and if you’re guaranteed to inherit them.

Things You Should Know

• Family tendencies are learned behaviors that family members tend to follow, like working similar jobs, following traditions, and political or religious beliefs.
• Family tendencies influence how you view the world and yourself, how you regulate your emotions, and what habits you follow throughout your life.
• It’s not a guarantee you’ll inherit family tendencies, and even if you do, you’re able to change your behaviours with conscious effort.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Common Examples of Family Tendencies

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   Working in the same field Many children will follow in the footsteps of their parents and find jobs from the same employers or in the same line of work. If your parents are doctors, teachers, lawyers, or any type of tradesperson, you may choose a similar career path because it’s what you’re familiar with. You may even feel pressure from your family to follow their line of work.
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   Academics and education Studies have shown that if your parents are educated and promote more learning at home, you’ll have a positive mindset around your education. They may encourage more critical thinking, involvement in school activities, or encourage you to be curious and continue learning new things. Families that are knowledgeable in academic subjects may also pass down the interest because they enjoy teaching the skills to you.
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   Traditions Family traditions are passed down between generations, so your parents will usually continue following them when they’re raising you. You may have traditions like getting together on holidays, having weekly family meetings, or going on yearly vacations. As you grow up, you’re more likely to follow the same traditions because of positive memories or because it’s what you’re familiar with doing.
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   Political leanings Around 80–90% of children and teens have the same political affiliation as their parents. Whether your parents are liberal or conservative shapes the values they’ll teach you as you grow up, so you’re more likely to continue following the same politics as them.
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   Religious beliefs Growing up in a home with religious tendencies can influence how you treat others, how often you go to church, and what values are the most important in your family. Once you’re old enough to leave home, there’s a good chance you’ll continue maintaining the same beliefs throughout your life.
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   Manners or etiquette When your parents teach you how to act politely around others, they’re usually trying to pass down the same tendencies that they learned growing up. In a household where manners were important, you may have the tendency to ask for permission or let others do something before you. If your parents didn’t have good manners or etiquette, then chances are you may not have those tendencies either.
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   Physical activity How your parents fill their free time affects what type of activities you tend to do in the future. If you were raised by an active family, you may have a tendency to work out and exercise regularly. If you had a family that has a more sedentary lifestyle, then you may not be as physically active.
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   Eating habits The meals your family provides for you growing up can shape your diet when you’re older. If your parents have an attitude around healthy eating and choose a variety of foods, then the family tendency is to have balanced meals. When families provide unhealthy meals and don’t promote balanced diets, then it could lead to a tendency in overeating or obesity.
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   Languages When you’re growing up in a multilingual home, it becomes a tendency to use words from each language when you communicate with your family. You may learn different languages at a young age and seamlessly switch between them when you talk to your parents. Conversely, it may be difficult to learn other languages if you only spoke one at home because you didn’t have the family tendency when you were growing up.
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    Abuse If you had verbally or physically abusive family members, it may create a “cycle of violence” that promotes anger or antisocial behaviors later on in life. As you grow up, you may have a tendency for specific coping mechanisms during stressful situations or carry some negativity into your future relationships.
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Section 2 of 4:

How do family tendencies influence a person’s life?

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   Family tendencies change your outlook on yourself and the world. Your childhood experiences mold you into the person you are now. If your family has positive tendencies that help you develop self-worth and promote healthy lifestyles, it can boost your confidence and make you feel more secure in your decisions. When your family has more negative tendencies, however, it may give you a more pessimistic outlook and way of thinking.
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   They shape how you regulate your emotions. Children learn how they should handle emotional situations by observing how their parents react to them. Positive family tendencies, like showing encouragement and maintaining openness in conversations, can help you get a better handle on controlling your emotions. Negative tendencies, like avoiding conflict or getting angry, can make it difficult for you to navigate intense emotions when you’re older.
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   They ingrain habits or beliefs. Your family’s culture really shapes how you view the world and act in certain situations. When your family makes you adhere to specific customs or routines, they start to feel like the norm to you. Because you’re so used to following the tendencies and patterns you were surrounded by as you grew up, it may be harder to break out of the old habits or beliefs your family passed to you.
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Section 3 of 4:

Will you inherit your family’s tendencies?

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1. 
   Family tendencies are not guaranteed for all family members. Even though family members and how you were raised have a strong influence on you, you may still change your behaviors. If you’re not happy with the tendencies or patterns your family follows, then work towards breaking the habits that you don’t like.

   • Example: If your family has a tendency to avoid conflict or have tough conversations, you may make sure to openly talk about problems when you raise a family of your own.
   • Example: If your family has a tendency to attend church each week but you aren’t very religious, you may stop going once you’re out of the house.

Section 4 of 4:

What’s the difference between a tendency and a trait?

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   Family traits are genetic while tendencies are behavioral patterns. Genetic traits, like eye and hair color, height, and hereditary diseases, are all predetermined and passed down through your parents’ genes. Conversely, family tendencies don’t have a biological link, so they’re the learned mindset and behaviors you picked up from the other members of your family.

   • Genetic traits cannot be controlled, but you are able to change your tendencies.
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