Nikita Efremov on Family Scenarios: How to Break the Habits of Past Generations 0 10

In the Efremov family, problems with alcohol have been observed for several generations. Nikita admits, “My grandfather drank, my father drank, and I… Yes, there was a moment when it would be great if this kind of conditional mission ended with me.” According to him, an important stage of personal work was understanding the need to separate from the figure of his father and build his own identity.

Psychologist Irina Dunaeva explains that such a situation is quite typical. In psychology, this is called a family scenario: a child absorbs the behavior patterns of their parents and unconsciously perceives them as the norm. “The desire to ‘be like the father’ or, conversely, to correct his mistakes can indeed increase the risk of repeating destructive habits because the person remains within the same system of beliefs and roles,” notes the expert.

The way out of family scenarios begins with separation — the recognition that the lives of parents do not predetermine one's own. Working on personal boundaries, therapy, and developing personal goals can help with this. Supportive relationships also play an important role: they teach one to distinguish where decisions come from personal desires and where they stem from attempts to conform to someone else's story.

“In this way, a person gains the opportunity to build their identity not out of obligation or repetition, but from inner freedom,” summarizes the psychologist.

Separation from the family scenario does not mean breaking ties with relatives; it offers a chance to live one's own life while being aware of personal desires and limitations. For Nikita, this process has already become a significant stage of personal growth: leaving the Sovremennik Theater in 2021 gave the actor a sense of freedom and the opportunity to create his own scenario without repeating the mistakes of previous generations.