Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS)

In my family, it was normal to show both positive and negative feelings.

The atmosphere in my family usually was unpleasant.

In my family, we encouraged one another to develop new friendships.

Differences of opinion in my family were discouraged.

People in my family often made excuses for their mistakes.

My parents encouraged family members to listen to one another.

Conflicts in my family never got resolved.

My family taught me that people were basically good.

I found it difficult to understand what other family members said and how they felt.

We talked about our sadness when a relative or family friend died.

My parents openly admitted it when they were wrong.

In my family, I expressed just about any feeling I had.

Resolving conflicts in my family was a very stressful experience.

My family was receptive to the different ways various family members viewed life.

My parents encouraged me to express my views openly.

I often had to guess at what other family members thought or how they felt.

My attitudes and feelings frequently were ignored or criticized in my family.

My family members rarely expressed responsibility for their actions.

In my family, I felt free to express my own opinions.

We never talked about our grief when a relative or family friend died.

Sometimes in my family, I did not have to say anything but I felt understood.

The atmosphere in my family was cold and negative.

The members of my family were not very receptive to one another's views.

I found it easy to understand what other family members said and how they felt.

If a family friend moved away, we never discussed our feelings of sadness.

In my family, I learned to be suspicious of others.

In my family, I felt that I could talk things out and settle conflicts.

I found it difficult to express my own opinions in my family.

Mealtimes in my home usually were friendly and pleasant.

In my family, no one cared about the feelings of other family members.

We usually were able to work out conflicts in my family.

In my family, certain feelings were not allowed to be expressed.

My family believed that people usually took advantage of you.

I found it easy in my family to express what I thought and how I felt.

My family members usually were sensitive to one another's feelings.

When someone important to us moved away, our family discussed our feelings.

My parents discouraged us from expressing views different from theirs.

In my family, people took responsibility for what they did.

My family had an unwritten rule: don't express your feelings.

I remember my family as being warm and supportive.