Interventions with Substance Abusers

Wegsheider’s Role Theory

Melissa Nugent

March 2nd, 2008

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 In 1981, Wegsheider introduced a theory stating, “Roles that individual family

members play reinforce or clash with roles of other members” (Van Wormer, 2008).

Wegsheider’s role theory typically is applied to middle-class families. What Wegsheider

means by families is the immediate people who the substance abuser interacts and lives

with (often biological immediate families). Addiction is a family disease because it

affects the family dynamics (Van Wormer, 2008). In Wegsheider’s theory there are five

different roles for the family with the chemically dependent person; 1) The family

manager, 2) the hero, 3) the scapegoat, 4) the lost child, and 5) the mascot. The roles are

normal responses to an abnormal situation (Van Wormer, 2008).

The family manager is usually the partner of the chemically dependent person.

This person often does more work in the family to make up for the lack of work of the

dependent person. This person may cover up things of the dependent person which

makes the family function. This person often has feelings of shame and guilt (Van

Worker, 2008).

The hero is often the family’s first child who is seeking approval. This child is

the one gleamed to be the best, though often has low self esteem because the person feels

he or she is loved for what one does not who he or she is. (Van Wormer, 2008). This

person may grow up to be a perfectionist and possibly marry a chemically dependent

person. The child who is a hero often will be responsible and becomes a leader (Van

Wormer, 2008).

The scapegoat is often the second born child. This child is the trouble maker. He

or she does poorly in school and is irresponsible, possibly with early drug and alcohol

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experimentation. The scapegoat is often a risk taker who makes friends easy (Van

Wormer, 2008).

The lost child is the person who is able to entertain him or herself and ignore the

problems at the time in the home. The child does not cause trouble and must learn to

express his or her feelings and deal with problems realistically (Van Wormer, 2008).

The mascot is the “comedian of the family”. He or she is able to make jokes and

entertain the family distracting the family from the problems. (Van Wormer, 2008). The

mascot is often popular. Of the roles in the family, one child can play more than one

role.

There have been several studies completed on the Wegsheider role theory. One

study showed that, adolescents most likely do not play the enabler role in their families

(Verdiano et al, 1990). The roles were highest for adolescents with the hero, then

mascot, scapegoat and lost child (Verdiano et al, 1990). Another study found that, “the

presence of two alcoholic parents was significant in producing diminished strength of

identification with Mascot role behaviors” (Veronie & Fruehstorfer, 2001). Rotunda

reports that “tree factors ("dry" vs "wet" families, family development and the

progression of alcoholism, and family structure) are identified as particularly relevant to

understanding the treatment needs of families affected by alcohol misuse” (Rotunda et al,

1995).

Each individual in a family functions on his or her own, though all together they

make a family unit. When there is a change of behavior in one person, it affects the

entire system (being the family). The individuals involved in the chemically dependent

person’s lives may be suffering as much as the addict and need help coping as well.

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Family therapy is often needed with addiction because if one unit in the system changes it

disrupts the whole system. This would be helpful when the addicted person is

recovering. The roles in Wegsheider’s theory have been found helpful in role-playing

and engaging the families (Van Wormer, 2008).

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References

Rotunda, R. J., Scherer, D. G., & Imm, P. S. (1995). Family systems and alcohol misuse:

Research on the effects of alcoholism on family functioning and effective family

interventions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 26, 95-104.

Schuster, S., & Schuster, R. (2005). A generalization of Wegscheider's condition.

Implications for properties of steady states and for quasi-steady-state approximation .

Journal of Mathematical Chemistry. 3, 25-42.

Van Wormer, K., & Davis, D. (2008). Addiction treatment: A strengths

perspective.Bemont: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Verdiano, D. L., Peterson, G. W., & Hicks, M. W. (1990). Toward an empirical

confirmation of the Wegscheider role theory. Public Medicine. 66, 723-730.

Veronie, Author's first name initialL., & Fruehstorfer, D. B. (2001). Gender, birth order

and family role identification among adult children of alcoholics . Current Psychology.

20, 53-67.