| The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, patterns, and effects that family teasing has on a person. This study also investigated the ways in which family teasing appears to be different from teasing among peers in terms of form and/or content, as well as frequency. The most frequently recalled perpetrators of family teasing, as well as the impact this type of teasing has on victims, were also explored. A final purpose of this study was to explore whether family environment was related to family teasing frequency and content.; A sample of 239 college-aged males and females attending Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, was used. These students came from classes in the Departments of Teacher Education and Sociology. The 239 students selected for this study were surveyed regarding their retrospective recall of being teased at home, as well as their family relationships. The subjects completed a Consent for Participation, Demographic Data Sheet, Family Teasing Inventory, and the Family Environment Scale form R.; Results show that although teasing within the family does occur with great frequency, a negative impact is not always the result. These findings suggest that teasing within the family may serve more as a lesson in socialization rather than a form of victimization. However, similar to peer teasing, the brother was found to be the most frequent teaser, and teasing topics generally surrounded intellect and appearance. Results showed that people who are teased in school are often teased at home as well; yet, a relationship between the two was not found. No ethnic or gender differences were found in terms of teasing type and frequency. Less conclusive findings included a weak relationship between teasing frequency and family environment and teasing frequency and lowered self-esteem and heightened anxiety. |
