Lecture

Families are complex systems composed of interconnected subsystems that mutually influence each other

Families are affected by a number of transitions, each of which can influence family structure, processes or both

PDF:
- 424 - S5.pdf
Family as theories
- Sullivan Interpersonal Theory
  - Provide with first model with interpersonal interactions
- Attachment
  - Crucial in how one view themselves and expectation of how to interact with others
  - Contribute to adult relationships
- Psychoanalysis
  - Important for personality development (psychosexual stages)
  - Especially important for the first 6 years of life (oral, annal, phallic)
- Alfred Alder
  - Parenting in early in life influences feelings of inferiority (contribute to how one strive for superiority)
  - Birth order effects personality
- Theory of Development
  - Have fixed psychosocial stages
  - Internal drive vs. External demand
- Ecological System Theory
  - Born in the context of broader system
  - Earliest context (family)
Characteristic 1: Family as systems
- What is the system theory?
  - A system is a cohesive group of interrelated and interdependent parts
    - Bound by space of time
    - Influence by environment
    - Defined by structure and purpose
    - Expressed through functioning
  - What are the 4 properties of systems
    1. Wholeness
    2. Integrity of subsystems
    3. Circularity of influence
    4. Stability and change
- How does wholeness contribute to systems
  - Argues Organized whole > Sum of parts
    - Creates a shared reality (unique)
  - Synergy: components working together (members of family)
- How does integrity of subgroups contribute to systems
  - Complex systems are composed of subsystems that are related to each other
  - Dyadic relationship in family
- What is the circularity of influence in family
```
  ```text
    --> [Marital Relationship] <--
    --> [Parenting] <--
    --> [Infant Behaviour and Development] <--
  ```
```
  - All components are mutually interdependent
  - Change in one has implications for all others 牵一发而动全身
- How can Stability & Change contribute to family
  - They are affected by all sorts of outside influences
  - Each system tries to maintain a state of stability, change tends to be resisted
  - Disequilibrium: a situation in which there is a significant change in a family member or in a relationship between family members
  - Phase transition: a period of transition in a family system in which old patterns are breaking down and new patterns are emerging
Characteristic 2: Family Structure & Processes
- Family structure vs. Family processes/functioning
  - Family structure
    - Outward, observable characteristic of the family (have face validity)
      - Ex. family size, birth order, family composition
  - Family process
    - Patterns of how families interact (difficult to measure)
      - Ex. intimacy, conflict, parenting styles
- What are the 2 impactful event that changed family structure/functioning?
  - Before this, family was the only source of support, economic, marriage, lived on it
  - Industrialization:
    - After this, family focused on medical care, psychological care, education, recreation, employment
  - Modernization:
    - After this, family focus on psychological, emotional needs, and ascribed socio-economic status
- How did industrialization/modernization impact family?
  - Longer life expectancy
  - Economic prosperity and social norms
    - Employment opportunities
  - Family setting
    - Rural vs. urban
  - Family size
    - Lower birth rate
    - Sibling spacing
    - Nuclear vs. extended families
  - Family mobility
  - Family composition
    - The “traditional” nuclear family is no longer the norm to which everyone “must” aspire
Characteristic 3: Intergenerational Solidarity y (Bengtson, 2001)
- Intergenerational Solidarity
  - The emotional and behavioural dimensions of interactions, cohesion, sentiment, and support among family members over the course of long-time relationships
- What are the 6 dimensions of intergenerational solidarity
  1. Affective solidarity
    - Emotions expressed/exchanged between generations
    - Sentiments and evaluations family members express about their relationship with other members
  2. Associational solidarity
    - The type and frequency of contact between intergenerational family members
  3. Consensual solidarity
    - Agreement in opinions, values, beliefs, and orientations between generations
  4. Functional solidarity
    - Exchange of support (emotional or instrumental)
    - The giving and receiving of support across generations, including both instrumental assets as well as emotional support
    - Type and direction are both important
  5. Normative solidarity
    - Expectations regarding filial obligations and parental obligations, as well as norms about the importance of familistic value
  6. Structure solidarity
    - The “opportunity structure” for cross-generational interaction reflecting geographic proximity between family members
Nature & Impacts of Family Transitions
- How can additional of partner impact family?
  - Cohabitation
    - Why does couple cohabitate before marriage has a higher rate to divorce?
      - Selection effect (higher likelihood to cohabitation <--> less series about relationships)
      - Culture (more acceptance to cohabitate <--> more acceptance for divorce)
    - Alternative to marriage
    - Prelude to marriage
    - Alternative to being single
  - Current trend on marriage
    - Proportion of people who marry is decreasing
    - First marriage age is increasing
    - Reasons
      - Social pressure
      - Less dependency on marriage with living standards
  - Mental/physical health
    - Selection effect (happier people attract happier people)
    - Provide resources to help well being
    - Marital crisis (marital conflict negatively reduce well being)
    - Remain in unhappy marriage --> higher mental/physical risk
  - Gottman & Notarius (2000)
    - Predicting divorce rate
    - Fondness & admiration (display affection, admiration, respect)
    - Mutuality (us vs me/you)
    - Love maps (growth belief)
    - Purpose & Meaning of chaos
    - Satisfaction vs. disappointment
- How can addition of child impact family?
  - Child birth trends
    - Roughly 85% of adults will eventually become parents
    - Declining brith rate among emerging adults
    - Increasing brith rate among women over 40
    - Increase in children born to unmarried parents
  - Change in family structure/function
    - Physical demands (sleep time)
    - Emotional cost
    - Restrictions of other opportunities
    - Strains in the marital relationship
    - Birth order (parenting style, sibling)
    - Sibling spacing (sibling relationship, time with parents)
    - Type of siblings
      - As children mature from childhood to early adolescence sibling conflict increases
      - Over the course of adolescence sibling relationships become more equal, more distant & less emotionally intense
      - In adulthood, close, positive sibling relationships can compensate for poor parent-adult child relationships
  - Curvilinear relationship
    - Transition typically accompanied by a small decrease in happiness and marital satisfaction
    - But applicable for all family
  - Factors affecting the transitions
    - Age of parents
    - Maturity of parents
    - Relationship between parents and their own parents
    - Amount and availability of social/emotional support
    - Nature of the child
    - Marital satisfaction prior to baby’s arrival
- How can addition of petsimpact family?
  - Higher levels of bonding in single-parent & single-child families
    - $75%$ of children in US live with pets
  - Reason
    - Companionship, pleasure, affection (unconditional), support
    - Young adults before or instead of parenthood
      - Develop nurturance skills
    - Midlife to fill void after launching young adult children
    - Older adulthood
      - Companionship
  - Pet’s importance during crisis
    - Source of social support
    - Facilitate adaptation to change
- How can adolescent-parent relationship impact family
  - Change in family structure/function
    - Change in economic demand (social comparison)
    - Relationships between family and non-family social institutions
    - Adolescent development
      - Privilege and responsibilities
    - Parents’ own transitions into middle adulthood
  - Current trend
    - Young people are living at home for longer than they have before (prolongation of entry into adulthood)
    - Attachment does not decline when children have moved away
      - Most still live in close proximity
      - Use of communication technology
      - Remember intergenerational solidarity
      - “Empty Nest” syndrome
        
        However, parental happiness also depends on problem children
- How can becoming a grandparent impact family
  - Trend on brith rate, longevity and economics
    - Most grandparents and grandchildren enjoy a long-lasting relationship and have more money to spend
  - Change in family structure/function
    - Full-time parenting vs grandparent
      - Companionship, social and emotional support, financial support
      - Disagreements over child-rearing
    - Sole caregivers to grandchildren (Grandfamilies)
    - Adult children may become care-giversn
      - As parents enter into older adulthood they may require care
      - Their kids also require care
      - “Sandwich”

Active Studying

Summarize today’s lecture

[::Most important/focused topic]
[::Most difficult part, why, how to resolve]

What part I didn’t understand, next step actions?