Week 8 - Post 1

            I think the most difficult pattern to change would be the complementarity pattern. This pattern already has a designated person playing the one-up role, and another person playing the one-down role. The textbook gives the example of a parent and a child’s relationship for the complementary pattern. This is a perfect example because it shows us that in this pattern, it is nearly impossible to have the roles changed. You wouldn’t see a child controlling and making decisions for a parent the way a parent does for a child. The most damaging pattern to a relationship would be competitive symmetry. Competitive symmetry in a relationship can be good at times, since it is basically encouragement to do better, but it can do more harm than it can good. This pattern can cause tension, stress, and frustration to be the best in the relationship, which is not healthy. The most potentially damaging pattern to the self-esteem of individuals would be submissive symmetry. This pattern can be damaging because of the stress of indecisiveness that it can cause a person.