Family Development Theory

1
Family Development Theory

• Rodgers, R. H., White, J. M. (1993).
  Family development theory. In P. G. Boss, W. J.
  Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm, S. K.
  Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theories
  and methods A contextual approach (pp. 225-254).
  New York Plenum Press.

2
Assumptions That Have Misdirected Family
Development Theory

• Teleology family development has some end or
  goal, an assumption which was influenced by child
  development.
• Determinism
• Behavior can be predicted ignorance and
  measurement error impede complete understanding.
• Mistaken view if certain conditions are met,
  families will successfully move to the next
  normative stage.
• Determinism made causal claims that bordered on
  moral righteousness (Rodgers White, 1993, p.
  227).
• Levels of Analysis four levels of analysis were
  considered distinct, but it has been difficult to
  always clearly distinguish them.
• Individuals.
• Relationships.
• Family group.
• The institution of the family.
• Logical Criteria theoretical concepts need to
  meet strict logical criteria

3
Theoretical Reformulation

• Components of a Definition of Family
• the sector of social life that is organized,
• the institutional nature of organizing norms,
• and the nature of the group being organized.
• Definition an intergenerational social group
  organized and governed by social norms regarding
  descent and affinity, reproduction, and the
  nurturant socialization of the young (White,
  1991).
• Table 10-1 reviews levels of analysis and
  research examples.
• Norm pattern of commonly held behavioral
  expectations it is a learned response.
• Norms feature both social expectations and
  behavior.
• Static norms regulate behavior and expectations
  within an age grouping.
• Process norms regulate timing and sequencing of
  expectations and behavior.
• Role an integrated or related subset of norms
  associated with a social position
• Position point or location within a particular
  type of social structure.

4
Table 10.1 Levels of Analysis and Example of
Concepts
5
Static Concepts

• Norm pattern of commonly held behavioral
  expectations it is a learned response.
• Norms feature both social expectations and
  behavior.
• Static norms regulate behavior and expectations
  within an age grouping.
• Process norms regulate timing and sequencing of
  expectations and behavior.
• Role an integrated or related subset of norms
  associated with a social position
• Position point or location within a particular
  type of social structure.

6
Static Concepts (cont.)

• Stage family group structure is used to define
  stages (see Figure 10-1). There are three
  criteria for determining stages
• The set of stages should be exhaustive and
  exclusive.
• The set should be tied to the theory.
• The set should be cross-cultural and applicable.
• Event transition points between stages.
• Notion of the Family Career sequential linking
  of family stages over the life history of the
  family system.

7
Dynamic Concepts

• Transitions
• Movement from one qualitatively distinct stage to
  another.
• They are regulated by process norms.
• Stage duration time between stages.
• Timing
• Timing as normative normative expectations about
  the timing of stages.
• Age timing event that marks the beginning of an
  event (e.g., birth, relationship).
• Event and stage sequences
• Event sequences vary which has research and
  theoretical implications.
• Event and stage sequences measure time (e.g.,
  period between events).
• There are three effects associated with a
  transition
• Unique effect of event, regardless of stage.
• Effect on stage of origin.
• Effect on stage of destination.

8
Definitions (from Table 10-2)

• A family stage is a qualitative period in the
  life of a family with its own unique group
  structure.
• Transition points are separating points between
  family stages.
• The institutions of marriage and the family
  contains all norms regulating those particular
  area of social life.
• A position is a location or a point in a social
  structure a family position is a location or
  point in a kinship structure.
• A norm is a social rule that has the two
  dimensions of a social expectation and behavior.
• A role is composed of all the norms attached to
  a specific position.
• A timing norm is a processual norm for when an
  event or stage is to be experienced by an
  individual, relationship, or family group. (This
  is in general measured by comparing the age and
  stage expectations and behavior for the
  individual, relationship, and family to establish
  whether the unit is on-time or off-time.

9
Definitions (cont.)

• A sequencing norm is a processual norm for the
  order in which events and stages are to be
  experienced by an individual, relationship, or
  family. (This is measured by the conformity or
  deviance for a sequence of events or stages from
  this modal sequence.)
• Other institutions are composed of the norms
  regulating specific areas of social life such as
  work, religion, education, polity, etc.
• The conjunction of one institutions timing
  norms with another institutions are called
  cross-institutional timing norms.
• The conjunction of one institutions sequencing
  norms with another institutions are called
  cross-institutional sequencing norms.
• Institutional normative adaptation is when norms
  of one institution are brought into alignment and
  articulation with the norms of some other
  institution(s).

10
Axioms (from Table 10-2)

• The process of family development is modeled by
  a semi-Markov model (see Note 26).
• When an institutions timing and sequencing
  norms do not articulate with those of other
  institutions (cross-institutional), then
• Individuals experience contradictory normative
  demands and, in conforming to one institutions
  set of norms, deviate from the norms in another
  institutions (strain).
• Contradictory timing and sequencing norms for
  family stages lead to grater deviation from the
  normative paths.
• Systematic individual and group deviance places
  pressure on an institution to adapt or align
  itself with the sequencing and timing norms of
  other institutions.

11
Propositions (from Table 10-2)

• Family development is stage dependent because
  there exists institutional sequencing and norms.
• Role relationships within the family change with
  the family stage.
• Family development is duration dependent because
  there exists institutional timing norms.
• Role relationships develop over time, in part,
  as a function of family stages.
• The normative demands of any given institution
  must be in line with the maturation of the
  individual.
• The normative demands of any given institution
  must be in line with the stage of the family,
  otherwise the family is strained.
• The sum total of normative demands for all
  institutions at any one point in time cannot
  overload the capacity of individuals or groups
  without creating social deviance (cross-normative
  strain).
• Institutional normative adaptation is preceded
  by systematic behavioral deviance.