The Family Dysfunctionality Index (FDI) by Uncle Anders

Editor's Note: Uncle Anders asked me to put the following post on my blog. It is his 3rd gift to the next generation on how to find a suitable spouse. As most people know the first gift was the Earning Potential concept (EP) and the second was to make good use of credit scores in making a spousal assessment. From his perspective as a bachelor Norwegian farmer living on an old farm his advice is well worth heeding.

The Family Dysfunctionality Index (FDI) by Uncle Anders

FDI is a new tool to use when assessing a potential spouse or business partner. It is an index with a range of values from -100 to +100. It shows the net amount of functional interactions versus dysfunctional interactions in the person's family expressed as an index. Since dysfunctional interactions are subtracted from functional interactions a score of zero means 50% of the interactions are dysfunctional and 50% are functional. A score below zero means one should avoid this potential spouse like the plague since the rope on the knot you tie will be on the other end of an anchor pulling you under the water.

Just so you know a score of zero does not mean the average family scores zero on the scale. It just means 50% of the interactions are functional and 50% are dysfunctional (or stated in other words the family is screwed-up). Though the concept is new we think the average family will score around +80 (90% of interactions functional and 10% are dysfunctional).

To understand this index you need to know families are social systems. A system is a set of interacting elements. With a system the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Properties emerge from a system not present in the individual elements (in this case people) in the system.

To calculate the index you need to sample interactions in the family. This is not easy since feedback to a system changes the system. If people know you are watching them they act like they think they are supposed to. Also, just being there changes the system if you interact with the family members since it creates a new system, The best tool we have learned of to date is a hidden microphone but beware of state laws on eavesdropping.