McMaster Family Assessment Device – FAD

We resolve most everyday problems around the house.

We usually act on our decisions regarding problems.

After our family tries to solve a problem, we usually discuss whether it worked or not.

We resolve most emotional upsets that come up.

We confront problems involving feelings.

We try to think of different ways to solve problems.

When someone is upset the others know why.

You can’t tell how a person is feeling from what they are saying.

People come right out and say things instead of hinting at them.

It is difficult to talk to each other about tender feelings.

We talk to people directly rather than through go-betweens.

We often don’t say what we mean.

We are frank with each other.

We don’t talk to each other when we are angry.

When we don’t like what someone has done, we tell them.

We are reluctant to show our affection for each other.

Some of us just don’t respond emotionally.

We do not show our love for each other.

Tenderness takes second place to other things in our family.

We express tenderness.

We cry openly.

If someone is in trouble, the others become too involved.

You only get the interest of others when something is important to them.

We are too self-centered.

We get involved with each other only when something interests us.

We show interest in each other when we can get something out of it personally.

Our family shows interest in each other only when they can get something out of it.

Even though we mean well, we intrude too much into each other’s lives.

We don’t know what to do when an emergency comes up.

You can easily get away with breaking the rules.

We know what to do in an emergency.

We have no clear expectations about toilet habits.

We have rules about hitting people.

We don’t hold to any rules or standards.

If the rules are broken, we don’t know what to expect.

Anything goes in our family.

There are rules about dangerous situations.

Planning family activities is difficult because we misunderstand each other.

In times of crisis we can turn to each other for support.

We cannot talk to each other about the sadness we feel.

Individuals are accepted for what they are.

We avoid discussing our fears and concerns.

We can express feelings to each other.

There are lots of bad feelings in the family.

We feel accepted for what we are.

Making decisions is a problem for our family.

We are able to make decisions about how to solve problems.

We don’t get along well together.

We confide in each other.