Chief enabler -- usually the spouse of the chemically dependent person, and may be chemically dependent on drugs as well. This individual has a vested interest in and is charged with keeping status quo regardless of the level of pain.
Hero -- usually the oldest child. He or she takes responsibility for the family's outward appearance to others and for maintenance of as near-normal functioning as possible within the family.
Scapegoat -- usually a middle child. He or she is constantly getting into minor or major trouble. This child serves to take the focus off the problems in the system and the chemically dependent.
Lost Child -- typically a middle or youngest child. He or she seems to disappear into the woodwork. Along with the hero, this child serves as a foil to the scapegoat.
Mascot -- usually the youngest child, constant displayer of humor or gist. May also be the eternally ill or frail child. He or she takes the focus off the system and its gravity.".
Each member of the dysfunctional family finds a role to play, which is most fitting to his or her personality or birth order. In dysfunctional homes children have little or no idea of what normal is. However, each member works very hard to keep up the image that everything is all right. The climate in the home of a dysfunctional family is most often unpredictable. Information provided by the article Children in Violent Homes, stated that,"79% of violent children have witnessed violence between their parents. Violent juvenile delinquents are four times more likely than are nonviolent juveniles to come from homes in which their fathers beat their mothers.".
Traumatic events of childhood often make the transition into adulthood difficult. In many cases professional help is needed. Abused children suffer from negative emotional problems. Children posses many inherent protective factors that help them deal with the abuse. An article entitled, Child Abuse and Violence, gives twelve protective factors that children use to respond to maltreatment:.