Causes and effects of Family Conflict among the Pakhtuns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Abstract

Family conflict is a universal phenomenon and is pervasive across all societies and cultures. It not only disturbs a harmonious family environment but also has everlasting negative effects on the lives of the family members. The current study aims to probe out the factors that cause conflict in traditional Pakhtun family setups and examine the most devastating effects that they create for family members. The study is undertaken in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study is carried out through a qualitative research design. A sample size of 42 participants was selected for the study by utilizing the purposive sampling technique. Moreover, to reach the most precise first-hand information, respondents from almost all walks of life were included in the study. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview guide and thematically analyzed. The study finds that the causes of family conflict vary from family to family and produce effects relevant to the structure of the family and the kind of relationships therein. Besides other factors, unequal income generation and/or expenditure, a caring child among the reckless ones, and the education of female household members are the major factors leading to family conflict in Pakhtun culture. Consequently, relationship breakdown among the family members, disintegration of multi-generational households, misfortune of the children, and old age insecurities are the drastic effects of the family conflict. The researcher feels a dire need to investigate the flaws in the system of education that minimizes a sense of cooperation instead of creating harmonious mutual co-existence among the members of society.