What are the characteristics of a fragmented family?

When relatives are alienated, the usual points of contact are disrupted and the lines of communication are tangled or severed. The participants are locked into a permanent state of hot or cold war, unable or unwilling to confront and resolve the issues. Estrangement can occur between persons who live in the same house as well as between those who live a continent apart. The emotional components vary, depending on the individual personalities and the family dynamics in any given situation. The stories in my book will provide vivid illustrations of many of these patterns.