Date

12-4-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Stephanie J. Phillips

Keywords

generational cycle, conflict avoidance, codependency, people-pleasing, relationship dynamics

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Many healthy and unhealthy adult behaviors are transmitted from parent to child as generational behavior cycles. Conflict avoidance, codependency, and people-pleasing are all unhealthy relationship dynamics that are generationally passed down in such a way. Breaking these generational cycles of unhealthy relationship dynamics is often difficult. The goal of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the common themes among individuals who have broken the generational cycles of conflict avoidance, co-dependency, and people-pleasing. The study consisted of 17 participants who were identified as having broken the generational cycles of conflict avoidance, codependency, or people-pleasing. Each participant was either previously involved in a counseling relationship with me or someone with whom a counselor had recommended due to first-hand insight into their experience of lasting change. Data was collected through individual, in-person semi-structured interviews, each lasting under 60 minutes. This research identified the six common themes of intimacy with Jesus as the anchor of transformation, rediscovering self-worth as the core to lasting change, authentic truth-telling as the pathway to freedom, the power of outside voices in inspiring transformation, transformation requires intentional action, and boundaries as foundations for healthy relationships. This research provided a framework for future research on individuals seeking to break unhealthy generational cycles in their lives.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS