The 6 types of mothers-in-law - and how to get along with each one

"Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, a clinical psychologist and author of "You, Your Husband, and His Mother" (out on November 4), told Business Insider that, in her nearly 20 years of experience, a common theme has been married couples wanting to build stronger relationships with their extended families. More often, daughters-in-law desired to get along better with their mothers-in-law. Dalgleish said women tend to be in charge of communicating and organizing events on behalf of the family."

"From her years of experience, Dalgleish has identified six main types of mothers-in-law, but said it's common for people to fall into several buckets. "The idea is not so much that we put people in boxes," she said. "It's so we can understand what behavior is showing up." She said some families, even after cutting off contact, have reconciled after recognizing certain patterns and getting on the same page."

Married couples often seek stronger relationships with their extended families. Daughters-in-law frequently aim to improve relations with mothers-in-law. Women commonly handle family communication and event planning, which can increase friction when priorities differ over traditions or childrearing. Six general mother-in-law behavioral types are identified to clarify recurring patterns rather than to label individuals. One type, the martyr, offers help but communicates guilt or expectation, which can make couples feel obligated and ungrateful. Recognizing interaction patterns can enable reconciliation after conflict and guide tailored communication strategies to improve family dynamics and set clearer boundaries.

Read at Business Insider