Talk to Dr. Chafetz now : 469-233-5566
Paul K. Chafetz, PhD Clinical Psychology
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  • Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Contact
    • Send Dr. Chafetz a Message
    • Contact Information >
      • Office Location
    • Upcoming Events
    • New patient registration forms
    • Site Map
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Articles
    • Quizzes
    • Other Media
  • Services
    • Adult Psychology >
      • Midlife Crisis Depression
      • Dealing With Empty Nest Syndrome
      • Adjustment To Retirement
      • Caregiver Support
      • Dealing with Adult Children
      • Dealing with Elderly Parents
      • Dealing With Difficult Relatives
      • Authority and Responsibility in Families
      • Boomerang adult children
      • BOOM: Becoming one's own man
    • Health Psychology >
      • Depression Psychotherapy
      • Anxiety Therapy
      • Insomnia Therapy
      • Chronic Illness Therapy
      • Pain Management Therapy
    • Psychology of Life >
      • Self-Esteem Therapy
      • Stages of Life Psychology
      • Assertiveness Therapy
      • Psychology of Forgiveness
      • Family Psychotherapy
      • Birth Order Psychology
    • Clinical Gero-Psychology >
      • Grief Therapy
      • Dementia Therapy
      • Coping with Senility
    • Forensic Gero-Psychology >
      • Competence to sign a will
      • Contesting a will
      • Guardianship
      • Vulnerability to exploitation
    • Need a speaker?
  • Past Events

Authority and Responsibility in Families


Dr. Chafetz believes that, to achieve family happiness, all adults must understand the following axiom, or fundamental truth: The people who take the most RESPONSIBILITY in a given area must be granted the most AUTHORITY in that area. 

Responsibility refers to doing the work, putting in one's own money, time, or effort, and generally "carrying the load" for a certain project, such as caring for an impaired relative.

Authority is the privilege to make decisions about the project at hand.  The tool for implementing decisions is often money, so control of the money often indicates who holds authority.

When one person has much responsibility and little authority, there is always another person who has little responsibility yet much authority.  This is a recipe for unhappiness!  The person with much responsibility and little authority is certain to eventually feel exploited, unappreciated, and disrespected.

The solution is for the person with much responsibility and little authority to inform the person who has little responsibility yet much authority that the situation is unworkable, and that, if a better balance is not found, she will not be able to continue, and she will simply resign the high responsibility role.  This is certain to get the attention of the other person, and open the door to meaningful negotiation.

Phone : 469.233.5566
Email :
PKChafetz@gmail.com
Paul K. Chafetz, PhD: Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist
Office Location: 8340 Meadow Rd., #134, Dallas, TX  75231