Often, the family is defined as the basic unit of society. In this essence, families can break or make societies based on the impact it has on its members. Children grow up looking up to older members of the family. They develop a sense of identity, security, and confidence based on what they see and experience in their families. The behaviors, attitudes, and personalities of children are shaped by their immediate surrounding which is the family. As they grow older, children exhibit behaviors that are acceptable in their families. It's commonly said that most families has some hidden skeletons in the closet. These skeletons are the deeply kept secrets that have the potential of breaking up families should they be allowed to. Children learn based on what they see, hear and experience. It shapes how they perceive things and relate to other people. Social class, false impressions, and unconditional love are characteristics that are relevant to most families and whose impact can build or break families.
Social class can be a positive or hindering factor in social interaction. A family's social class will contribute significantly to the shaping of the mindsets of children. While lower social classes may lead to feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, and shame, it can also result in contentment and appreciation of the little things in life. Children from upper social classes have a confidence boost that others don't have. They are also more exposed and are likely to succeed in life. Nevertheless, children from upper social classes also face the danger of isolation and insensitivity. Since they cannot relate with poverty and desolation, they tend to live in a world that is isolated and unrealistic. This is displayed in the shorts story The Garden Party, where the author introduces a family that is isolated from the realities in their community. The Sheridan children, Laurie and Jose, identify themselves with the upper class and are detached from the realities around them. At one point Jose admonishes Laura when she pleads for the cancellation of the party stating "You won't bring a drunken man to life by being sentimental" (Mansfield 12). In a different scenario, Mrs. Sheridan says to Laura, “People like that don't need our sympathy" (Mansfield 7). The insensitivity of Mrs. Sheridan and her children towards people who are not of their class clearly indicates that the children have attached their identity to their social class and in so doing, assumed a superiority complex in relation to the economically disadvantaged members of the society.