GENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION AND FAMILY LOYALTIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARENTHOOD: A SYSTEMIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This article examined, from the perspective of Systemic Family Therapy, the influence of visible and invisible family loyalties and generational transmission on the construction of parenthood and on decisions related to child-rearing. It seeks to understand how inherited bonds, expectations and commitments shape relational patterns, guide the occupation of parental roles and sustain the reproduction or transformation of educational practices across generations. Methodologically, this is a narrative literature review conducted in the SciELO, PePSIC and Google Scholar databases, including books, scientific articles, dissertations and theses addressing family loyalties, generational transmission and parenthood from a systemic perspective. The results indicate that the construction of parenthood is deeply influenced by family patterns transmitted across generations, which may be adaptive or dysfunctional. Invisible loyalties, for example, establish emotional commitments that guide parental behaviors even without explicit awareness. It is also observed that low levels of emotional differentiation intensify conflicts between autonomy and belonging, favor the automatic repetition of inherited patterns and increase anxiety within family subsystems. It is concluded that understanding these processes is essential for identifying family dynamics, preventing dysfunctional cycles and promoting healthier parental practices.