Family dynamics is a broad term used to describe the patterns in which members of a family unit interact with each other. For example, family dynamics can describe how one individual perceives another family member's attitude about his role in the family unit, the effect that perception has on the way those two family members relate the one another and consequences for the other family members based on that interaction. The concept of family dynamics is of interest to those in health care, counseling and therapeutic, religious or spiritual, mental health or child-protective services and suggests that there is a set of behaviors indicative of healthy and unhealthy family dynamics.

Family Structure
• Family structure is one way family dynamics are perceived. Factors like the number of children, parents and others, the biological connection or lack thereof between a parent and child and the age rank and difference among children in a household will play a part in how family dynamics are characterized.

Family Values
• The values of the family unit and each family member's personality affects the family dynamic and can often be a primary source of conflict. Ethnic, religious and cultural background and values are often assumed to be a shared experience for members of the same family, particularly in the eyes of a parent. When another family member disagrees with or has life experiences opposed by these standards, it can put a strain on the family dynamic, with the traditionally complying members experiencing disobedience, betrayal or concern for their well-being. The family member opposing the standards often feels like she is not being listened to, ignored, expected to change, disgracing the family or experiencing "black sheep syndrome." Even after initial conflicts (if any) are resolved, this difference in values will still in some way affect family dynamics. This has particularly been a concern for families where the country of origin of a parent and child are different and the child is accustomed to a different set of social and cultural values.

Past Experiences
• The past experiences of the family as a unit of individual members of the family will influence the family dynamic. The aforementioned perceived relationship roles and power dynamics usually stem from an early family experience and may play a part in how later life family scenarios play out. Strong Bonds reminds us that, "People can get stuck in their role and find it hard to get others to see a different side of them."

Changing Family Dynamics
• A preexisting family dynamic changes each time parents marry, separate, divorce and remarry or new infants or children are added to the family. It is often a focus of mental health professionals to interject at this delicate time in the family history to work towards realizing this new family dynamic in a way that is positive for all family members.