Perhaps nothing so accurately characterizes dysfunctional families as denial. The denial forces members to keep believing the myths and vital lies in spite of the facts, or to keep expecting that the same behaviors will have different outcomes.Dad's not an alcoholic because he never drinks in the morning, in spite of the fact that he's drunk every night.
John Bradshaw, Bradshaw on the Family: A New Way of Creating Solid Self-Esteem
addiction, alcoholic-parent, alcoholism, denial, dysfunctional-families, dysfunctional-family