The necessity of good communication within families is a widely accepted theory according to most anthropologists, sociologist, and psychologists.

The family unit provides children and other family members alike with the skills and emotional support they need in order to be happy and successful. However, the majority of emphasis is placed on the role of the nuclear family and how communication in this model is conducted, along with what ramifications communication breakdown has on individual members of the nuclear family unit. In spite of the emphasis placed on the importance of the nuclear family and communication within it, the extended family unit is also vital in helping to develop a sense of belonging, support, and community. In fact, in many instances it is the extended family in which the foundations for the building of self are constructed. In the changing environment of today, with the effects of globalization and transnational familial units, the investigation into the importance of maintaining extended family communication become more paramount. Immigrants, in particular, are strongly affected by abilities to strengthen and maintain extended family connection. Although the importance of extended family is largely lost in many Western cultures, the establishment of open communication channels in these cultures would also provide many benefits to family members. For immigrants to other countries, along with all family units including those in Western cultures, maintaining extended family connections through communication is necessary in order to feel safe through the presence of emotional support and a sense of belonging, as is the development of an effective method of communication in order to secure these feelings. The extended family includes all of those family members who do not belong to the nuclear family unit. The nuclear family is made up of two generations: parents and children. Extended family includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In many cultures, in fact, extended family includes several more removed relatives such as second cousins, great aunts and uncles, and so on. The nuclear family is largely defined by its ability to operate autonomously, and be an independent unit from grandparents and other relatives. In contrast, extended families are often considered interdependent, in

which Interdependence is described as the classic model of the extended family found in rural/agrarian traditional societies, with overall material and emotional interdependence (Georgas et al., 2001, p. 290). By placing emphasis on independence, nuclear families begin to breakdown the feelings and support of a community. In effect, the breakdown of a nuclear family from the extended family results in a loss to the support system available to all family members. For example, when the nuclear becomes fragmented from its kinship network, the extended family, it lead to psychological isolation (Georgas et al., 2001, p. 290). In addition, stress and broken relationships at work and in the family interrelate and have depressing repercussions for building a vibrant community life (Cheong, 2006, p. 371). There are several factors other than the culturally defined ones such as interdependence versus independence that result in a fracture between the nuclear and extended family units, however. The world is increasingly becoming smaller, with more and more people separating from their families not just by a town or state, but by an entire nation. In fact, more and more individuals around the globe are engaged in migration to enhance their welfare, and it is thought that the number of transnational families (families that maintain significant contact with two or more countries) will only continue to increase (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 77). In many cultures, emphasis continues to be placed on maintaining contact and a close relationship with extended family members who have been separated from nuclear families by distance. For example, Advancements in phone and internet communication, affordable transportation, dual citizenship, and globalization of the world are beneficial in transnational, intergenerational relationships (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 77). It is particularly notable, however, that immigrants to the United States have a more difficult time in maintaining these intergenerational, transnational relationships with extended family, as do those extended families immigrating to the United States together. In the United States, a close extended family model is not considered to be the norm. However,

cultures vary in terms of significant differences in emotional distance to members of the nuclear and extended family, in terms of how close or how far they live from these members, how often they meet these members, and how often they telephone them (Georgas et al., 2001, p. 298). The stress on the importance of independence has created communication channels that rely on and emphasize the importance of the role of communication between parents and children, rather than the importance of communication, for example, between grandchildren and grandparents. This is often met with criticism. For instance, Some scholars describe acculturation to the dominant American culture as the erosion of traditional cultural language, values, and practices and find that it negatively impacts intergenerational relationships (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 80). The United States and other Western cultures differ from most other cultures in which extended family is an integral part of the communication of community and support, instead of the United States characteristics of Physical distance between family members, extreme emphasis on independence, a focus on ones own needs, and less integrated family relationships dominate in the U.S. (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 85). It is important to understand the role of extended family in other cultures to understand the importance of communication between extended family members. In some cultures, including the Eastern European, family includes not only nuclear but also extended family members such as parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and other relatives who often reside in the countries of origin thousands of miles away (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 83). In some nations, such as Nigeria, the extended is an integral part in the family unit has a whole, including in developing communication. For example, extended family exercises some controlling authority over all its members. It commands their loyalty, demands strict adherence to the norms of mutual aid, and makes major decisions (Obikeze, 1987, p. 25). The role of family remains important once immigrating, because discriminatory practices toward new immigrants, particularly those reinforced by recent post-9/11 concerns over national security, may also affect a sense of

belonging and reduce the trust levels of immigrants towards governmental and voluntary associations (Cheong, 2006, p. 370). Communication with extended family members allows for individuals to remain a part of a community. Once in a different culture, The number of socio-cultural variables that affect the extended family institution is literally limitless. These include urbanization, industrialization, education, occupation, religious beliefs, the mass media, income, to name only a few (Obikeze, 1987, p. 27). The sense of community is very important because Assistance flows both ways between generations, due in part to low-quality childcare, shortage of housing, and scarcity of services for the seniors, children, and families (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 79).In spite of these challenges, along with the challenges of living in a new land with new values and beliefs, there are important steps to keeping the intergenerational relationships strong in many immigrant cultures. These include teaching children their native language; exchanging visits and relocating, and communication and story telling (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 86). The storytelling neighborhood describes the communication processes through which family members go from being occupants of a house to being resident members exhibiting belonging feelings and behaviors to a neighborhood community (Cheong, 2006, p. 371). Story telling provides one generation with the opportunity to bridge generational gaps between the older and younger generation. This technique can be used to ensure communication among extended family members, and could help to change the role of extended family in the United States. The role of extended family in the United States, however, has already started to change not just by the influence of other cultures, but also by the influence of economic necessity. For example, there an increasing number of adults are moving in with their parents, either due to financial hardship or in order to care for aging seniors. Those adults often bring their own children with them, and three or four generations live under one roof. In some cases, this includes other extended family members such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. In fact, 3.9 million such households counted in the 2000 U.S. Census,

nearly four percent of all households in the nation (Groe, 2008, p. 8). Due to these types of circumstances, the role of the extended family is taking on much more importance even in American and other Western cultures, and necessitates the formulation of methods in which to communicate between generations. The Family Map framework emphasizes three important components of what defines a healthy, successful family unit: cohesiona sense of togetherness or closeness in the family; flexibilitythe ability to change with changing life circumstances; and communicationa facilitating dimension which helps families increase their feelings of closeness and successfully work out problems (DeFrain, 1999, p. 9). Similarly, the Family Strengths model includes six important components of creating and maintaining a healthy family unit: commitment; appreciation and affection; positive communication; time together; spiritual wellbeing; and the ability to cope with stress and crisis (DeFrain, 1999, p. 9). It is also important for family members, particularly extended family members, to consider that Communication does not always produce agreement, even in strong families. Family members have differences and conflicts, but they speak directly and honestly about them without blaming or condemning each other and that members of strong families are extremely good listeners (DeFrain, 1999, p. 10). By remembering this, members of extended families within one generation may be better positioned to establish strong family ties among the entire extended family unit. Brothers and sisters are perhaps the first line in forming community among extended families. When a strong sibling bond exists, it is more likely that cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandparents will interact with one another. For those who do communicate with one another, adult siblings report using communication channels such as the telephone, personal visits, e-mail, instant messenger, letters, indirect third party communication, and shared activities to maintain their relationships (Myers & Goodboy, 2010, p. 106). In order for a strong community to be developed, the communication between siblings should be frequent, and adult siblings have to make a stronger effort than friends do to maintain a supportive relationship (Myers & Goodboy, 2010, p. 103). By doing so, an extended family community can be created. Extended families are an important part of the emotional and community support that is available to the nuclear family. In the United States, there has historically been a tendency to place

much emphasis on the nuclear family as an independent unit. Through other cultures and a growing need for more communication between extended family members to exist, however, attitudes and perceptions in the United States are beginning to change. By concentrating on how to communicate effectively, extended families in the U.S. will be able to create the bonds they need to effectively create a supportive community with one another and bridge the generational gaps between extended family members. References Cheong, P.H. (2006). Communication context, social cohesion and social capital building among Hispanic immigrant families. Community, Work and Family 9(3), pp. 367-387. This article discusses some of the unique challenges that other cultures, Hispanic in this particular case, face when they immigrate to the United States. The article is important to the paper because it helps to lay a foundation for understanding not just the importance of extended family in other cultures, but how those ties can be broken down in todays society. By doing so, it also highlights the areas needed to work on and what tools can be used in order maintain communication between family members. DeFrain, J. (1999). Strong families around the world. Family Matters Winter (53), pp. 6-13. This article emphasizes the importance of not just looking for problems in communication among family members, but also points out several helpful techniques for how to begin to effectively communicate with one another. The article discusses how to build a strong family, and the role of effective, open, and honest communication in doing so. This article is relevant because many of the theories presented are important in maintaining communication among extended family members. Georgas, J., Mylona, K., Bafiti, T., Poortinga, Y.H., Christakopoulou, S., Kagitcibasi, C., Kwak, K., Ataca, B., Berry, J., Orung, S., Sunar, D., Charalambous, N., Goodwin, R., Wang, W., Angleitner, A., Stepanikova, I., Pick, S., Givaudan, M., Shuravlova-Gionis, I., Konantambigi, R., Gelfand, M.J., Marinova, V., McBride-Chang, C., and Kodic, Y. (2001). Functional relationships in the nuclear and extended family: A 16-culture study. International Journal of Psychology 36(5), pp. 289-300. This article, written for the International Journal of Psychology, describers the cultural, structural, and communicative aspects of nuclear and extended families in order to develop a community with one another. The article raises several interesting points about the importance of extended families in some way among 16 different cultures around the world. This also includes Western culture, although it was concluded that cultures from other areas of the globe place much more emphasis on the importance of

extended family communication than do those in the United States. Groe, I. (2008). Overextended. Planning, pp. 7-9. This article was written for the American Planning Association in order to examine the shortage of developments and homes that are equipped to deal with multigenerational families living together. In summary, Groe states that the number of extended family homes is beginning to increase, with little space or options for creating comfortable home environments for three or four generations to co-exist. Also interesting was the note the author made that this type of housing, in which adequate space or what is referred to as a mother-in-law unit or granny flat (an autonomous space connected to another home), fell out of popularity after World War II, when single-family home dwellings in suburbs became popular and tax provisions were made to encourage for nuclear families to live alone and separated from the extended family. Myers, S.A. and Goodboy, A.K. (2010). Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Communication Channel Use among Adult Siblings. North American Journal of Psychology 12(1), pp. 103-116. This study explores the relationship between siblings, and what affect sibling communication has on other members of the family. The premise of the study is that the relationship of the siblings is the most important determinant in establishing the relational maintenance of the relationship and communication. The study found, however, that the perceived status of the relationship did little to alter the types and frequency of communication between siblings. This particular article, printed in a scholarly journal, is important to the essay because it provides detail and information outlining the importance of sibling communication, which is an important component of communication maintenance among extended family members. Nesteruk, O. and Marks, L. (2009). Grandparents Across the Ocean: Eastern European Immigrants Struggle to Maintain Intergenerational Relationships. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 40(1), pp. 77-95. This article was interesting because it explored the role of the extended family in the Eastern European culture. As more and more Eastern Europeans begin to take part in the transnational trend, it is more imperative to understand how they adapt to other cultures, along with what traditions and beliefs they continue to hold on to rather than to assimilate entirely into Western cultures. The article also presents ideas for how extended families are able to communicate transnationally, as well as between generations. Obikeze, D.S. (1987). Education and the Extended Family Ideology: The Case of Nigeria. Journal of Comparative Family Studies XVIII(1), pp. 25-45.

The necessity of good communication within families is a widely accepted theory according to most anthropologists, sociologist, and psychologists. The family unit provides children and other family members alike with the skills and emotional support they need in order to be happy and successful. However, the majority of emphasis is placed on the role of the nuclear family and how communication in this model is conducted, along with what ramifications communication breakdown has on individual members of the nuclear family unit. In spite of the emphasis placed on the importance of the nuclear family and communication within it, the extended family unit is also vital in helping to develop a sense of belonging, support, and community. In fact, in many instances it is the extended family in which the foundations for the building of self are constructed. In the changing environment of today, with the effects of globalization and transnational familial units, the investigation into the importance of maintaining extended family communication become more paramount. Immigrants, in particular, are strongly affected by abilities to strengthen and maintain extended family connection. Although the importance of extended family is largely lost in many Western cultures, the establishment of open communication channels in these cultures would also provide many benefits to family members. For immigrants to other countries, along with all family units including those in Western cultures, maintaining extended family connections through communication is necessary in order to feel safe through the presence of emotional support and a sense of belonging, as is the development of an effective method of communication in order to secure these feelings. The extended family includes all of those family members who do not belong to the nuclear family unit. The nuclear family is made up of two generations: parents and children. Extended family includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In many cultures, in fact, extended family includes several more removed relatives such as second cousins, great aunts and uncles, and so on. The nuclear family is largely defined by its ability to operate autonomously, and be an independent unit from grandparents and other relatives. In contrast, extended families are often considered interdependent, in

which Interdependence is described as the classic model of the extended family found in rural/agrarian traditional societies, with overall material and emotional interdependence (Georgas et al., 2001, p. 290). By placing emphasis on independence, nuclear families begin to breakdown the feelings and support of a community. In effect, the breakdown of a nuclear family from the extended family results in a loss to the support system available to all family members. For example, when the nuclear becomes fragmented from its kinship network, the extended family, it lead to psychological isolation (Georgas et al., 2001, p. 290). In addition, stress and broken relationships at work and in the family interrelate and have depressing repercussions for building a vibrant community life (Cheong, 2006, p. 371). There are several factors other than the culturally defined ones such as interdependence versus independence that result in a fracture between the nuclear and extended family units, however. The world is increasingly becoming smaller, with more and more people separating from their families not just by a town or state, but by an entire nation. In fact, more and more individuals around the globe are engaged in migration to enhance their welfare, and it is thought that the number of transnational families (families that maintain significant contact with two or more countries) will only continue to increase (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 77). In many cultures, emphasis continues to be placed on maintaining contact and a close relationship with extended family members who have been separated from nuclear families by distance. For example, Advancements in phone and internet communication, affordable transportation, dual citizenship, and globalization of the world are beneficial in transnational, intergenerational relationships (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 77). It is particularly notable, however, that immigrants to the United States have a more difficult time in maintaining these intergenerational, transnational relationships with extended family, as do those extended families immigrating to the United States together. In the United States, a close extended family model is not considered to be the norm. However,

cultures vary in terms of significant differences in emotional distance to members of the nuclear and extended family, in terms of how close or how far they live from these members, how often they meet these members, and how often they telephone them (Georgas et al., 2001, p. 298). The stress on the importance of independence has created communication channels that rely on and emphasize the importance of the role of communication between parents and children, rather than the importance of communication, for example, between grandchildren and grandparents. This is often met with criticism. For instance, Some scholars describe acculturation to the dominant American culture as the erosion of traditional cultural language, values, and practices and find that it negatively impacts intergenerational relationships (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 80). The United States and other Western cultures differ from most other cultures in which extended family is an integral part of the communication of community and support, instead of the United States characteristics of Physical distance between family members, extreme emphasis on independence, a focus on ones own needs, and less integrated family relationships dominate in the U.S. (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 85). It is important to understand the role of extended family in other cultures to understand the importance of communication between extended family members. In some cultures, including the Eastern European, family includes not only nuclear but also extended family members such as parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and other relatives who often reside in the countries of origin thousands of miles away (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 83). In some nations, such as Nigeria, the extended is an integral part in the family unit has a whole, including in developing communication. For example, extended family exercises some controlling authority over all its members. It commands their loyalty, demands strict adherence to the norms of mutual aid, and makes major decisions (Obikeze, 1987, p. 25). The role of family remains important once immigrating, because discriminatory practices toward new immigrants, particularly those reinforced by recent post-9/11 concerns over national security, may also affect a sense of

belonging and reduce the trust levels of immigrants towards governmental and voluntary associations (Cheong, 2006, p. 370). Communication with extended family members allows for individuals to remain a part of a community. Once in a different culture, The number of socio-cultural variables that affect the extended family institution is literally limitless. These include urbanization, industrialization, education, occupation, religious beliefs, the mass media, income, to name only a few (Obikeze, 1987, p. 27). The sense of community is very important because Assistance flows both ways between generations, due in part to low-quality childcare, shortage of housing, and scarcity of services for the seniors, children, and families (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 79).In spite of these challenges, along with the challenges of living in a new land with new values and beliefs, there are important steps to keeping the intergenerational relationships strong in many immigrant cultures. These include teaching children their native language; exchanging visits and relocating, and communication and story telling (Nesteruk & Marks, 2009, p. 86). The storytelling neighborhood describes the communication processes through which family members go from being occupants of a house to being resident members exhibiting belonging feelings and behaviors to a neighborhood community (Cheong, 2006, p. 371). Story telling provides one generation with the opportunity to bridge generational gaps between the older and younger generation. This technique can be used to ensure communication among extended family members, and could help to change the role of extended family in the United States. The role of extended family in the United States, however, has already started to change not just by the influence of other cultures, but also by the influence of economic necessity. For example, there an increasing number of adults are moving in with their parents, either due to financial hardship or in order to care for aging seniors. Those adults often bring their own children with them, and three or four generations live under one roof. In some cases, this includes other extended family members such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. In fact, 3.9 million such households counted in the 2000 U.S. Census,

nearly four percent of all households in the nation (Groe, 2008, p. 8). Due to these types of circumstances, the role of the extended family is taking on much more importance even in American and other Western cultures, and necessitates the formulation of methods in which to communicate between generations. The Family Map framework emphasizes three important components of what defines a healthy, successful family unit: cohesiona sense of togetherness or closeness in the family; flexibilitythe ability to change with changing life circumstances; and communicationa facilitating dimension which helps families increase their feelings of closeness and successfully work out problems (DeFrain, 1999, p. 9). Similarly, the Family Strengths model includes six important components of creating and maintaining a healthy family unit: commitment; appreciation and affection; positive communication; time together; spiritual wellbeing; and the ability to cope with stress and crisis (DeFrain, 1999, p. 9). It is also important for family members, particularly extended family members, to consider that Communication does not always produce agreement, even in strong families. Family members have differences and conflicts, but they speak directly and honestly about them without blaming or condemning each other and that members of strong families are extremely good listeners (DeFrain, 1999, p. 10). By remembering this, members of extended families within one generation may be better positioned to establish strong family ties among the entire extended family unit. Brothers and sisters are perhaps the first line in forming community among extended families. When a strong sibling bond exists, it is more likely that cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandparents will interact with one another. For those who do communicate with one another, adult siblings report using communication channels such as the telephone, personal visits, e-mail, instant messenger, letters, indirect third party communication, and shared activities to maintain their relationships (Myers & Goodboy, 2010, p. 106). In order for a strong community to be developed, the communication between siblings should be frequent, and adult siblings have to make a stronger effort

than friends do to maintain a supportive relationship (Myers & Goodboy, 2010, p. 103). By doing so, an extended family community can be created. Extended families are an important part of the emotional and community support that is available to the nuclear family. In the United States, there has historically been a tendency to place much emphasis on the nuclear family as an independent unit. Through other cultures and a growing need for more communication between extended family members to exist, however, attitudes and perceptions in the United States are beginning to change. By concentrating on how to communicate effectively, extended families in the U.S. will be able to create the bonds they need to effectively create a supportive community with one another and bridge the generational gaps between extended family members.

References Cheong, P.H. (2006). Communication context, social cohesion and social capital building among Hispanic immigrant families. Community, Work and Family 9(3), pp. 367-387. This article discusses some of the unique challenges that other cultures, Hispanic in this particular case, face when they immigrate to the United States. The article is important to the paper because it helps to lay a foundation for understanding not just the importance of extended family in other cultures, but how those ties can be broken down in todays society. By doing so, it also highlights the areas needed to work on and what tools can be used in order maintain communication between family members. DeFrain, J. (1999). Strong families around the world. Family Matters Winter (53), pp. 6-13. This article emphasizes the importance of not just looking for problems in communication among family members, but also points out several helpful techniques for how to begin to effectively communicate with one another. The article discusses how to build a strong family, and the role of effective, open, and honest communication in doing so. This article is relevant because many of the theories presented are important in maintaining communication among extended family members. Georgas, J., Mylona, K., Bafiti, T., Poortinga, Y.H., Christakopoulou, S., Kagitcibasi, C., Kwak, K., Ataca, B., Berry, J., Orung, S., Sunar, D., Charalambous, N., Goodwin, R., Wang, W., Angleitner, A., Stepanikova, I., Pick, S., Givaudan, M., Shuravlova-Gionis, I., Konantambigi, R., Gelfand, M.J., Marinova, V., McBride-Chang, C., and Kodic, Y. (2001). Functional relationships in the nuclear and extended family: A 16-culture study. International Journal of Psychology 36(5), pp. 289-300. This article, written for the International Journal of Psychology, describers the cultural, structural, and communicative aspects of nuclear and extended families in order to develop a community with one another. The article raises several interesting points about the importance of extended families in some way among 16 different cultures around the world. This also includes Western culture, although it was concluded that cultures from other areas of the globe place much more emphasis on the importance of extended family communication than do those in the United States. Groe, I. (2008). Overextended. Planning, pp. 7-9. This article was written for the American Planning Association in order to examine the shortage of developments and homes that are equipped to deal with multigenerational families living together. In summary, Groe states that the number of extended family homes is beginning to increase, with little space or options for creating comfortable home environments for three or four generations to co-exist.

Also interesting was the note the author made that this type of housing, in which adequate space or what is referred to as a mother-in-law unit or granny flat (an autonomous space connected to another home), fell out of popularity after World War II, when single-family home dwellings in suburbs became popular and tax provisions were made to encourage for nuclear families to live alone and separated from the extended family. Myers, S.A. and Goodboy, A.K. (2010). Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Communication Channel Use among Adult Siblings. North American Journal of Psychology 12(1), pp. 103-116. This study explores the relationship between siblings, and what affect sibling communication has on other members of the family. The premise of the study is that the relationship of the siblings is the most important determinant in establishing the relational maintenance of the relationship and communication. The study found, however, that the perceived status of the relationship did little to alter the types and frequency of communication between siblings. This particular article, printed in a scholarly journal, is important to the essay because it provides detail and information outlining the importance of sibling communication, which is an important component of communication maintenance among extended family members. Nesteruk, O. and Marks, L. (2009). Grandparents Across the Ocean: Eastern European Immigrants Struggle to Maintain Intergenerational Relationships. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 40(1), pp. 77-95. This article was interesting because it explored the role of the extended family in the Eastern European culture. As more and more Eastern Europeans begin to take part in the transnational trend, it is more imperative to understand how they adapt to other cultures, along with what traditions and beliefs they continue to hold on to rather than to assimilate entirely into Western cultures. The article also presents ideas for how extended families are able to communicate transnationally, as well as between generations. Obikeze, D.S. (1987). Education and the Extended Family Ideology: The Case of Nigeria. Journal of Comparative Family Studies XVIII(1), pp. 25-45. This article is written on the role of extended family in Nigeria. There is a lot of importance on the extended family, and extended family often makes up the entire community for every individual member of its unit. This particular study focuses on the changes that have occurred in Nigeria, attempting to identify the results of urbanization and education on extended family members. This article is important because it outlines why extended family is important in creating community, and how the communication channels among extended family members, particularly those from different generations, are easily able to be broken down by such factors as urbanization and education.