Final answer:
Behavior characteristics in families with anorexia nervosa include isolation between family members, unclear boundaries, and a preoccupation with food and eating. Successful conflict resolution and individual autonomy are not typically associated with these family dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the family systems theory, family behavior characteristics associated with anorexia nervosa include several critical factors. Among these, we can identify particular behaviors that are often seen in families where an eating disorder emerges. The most commonly associated behaviors would include:
- Isolation between family members, which refers to the lack of healthy communication and often leads to the entrenchment of the disorder.
- Unclear boundaries between family members, suggesting that there is poor differentiation of where one member's emotions end and another's begin, contributing to a lack of autonomy.
- Family members' preoccupation with food and eating, which can manifest as an excessive focus on diet or body image within the family unit, potentially triggering or exacerbating eating disorder symptoms.
While successful conflict resolution and individual autonomy are generally positive traits within family dynamics, they are not typically associated with families where anorexia is present.