Theoretical Perspectives on The Family

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Theoretical Perspectives on The Family
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Science

• Defined as a logical system that bases knowledge
  onsystematic observation and on empirical
  evidence--facts we can verify with our senses.
• Purpose overcome researchers biases

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Problems with Peer-Review/Blind Process

• Means different things at different journals
• Slow
• Expensive
• Subjective
• Biased
• How can peer review be improved?

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Dominant Theoretical Perspectives

• The Family Ecology Perspective
• The Family Life Course Development Perspective
• The Structure-Functional Perspective
• The Interaction-Constructionist Perspective
• Exchange Theory
• Family Systems Theory
• Conflict and Feminist Theory
• The Biosocial Perspective
• Attachment Theory

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Family Ecology Perspective on the Family

• Rooted in Lewins field theory B ƒ(P, E)
• Basic premise is the principle of adaptation

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The Family Ecology Perspective
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Family Ecology Perspective
Theme The ecological context of the family affects family life and childrens outcomes.
Key Concepts Natural physical-biological environment Human-built environment Social-cultural environment
Current Research Family policy Neighborhood effects
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Family Life Course Development Framework

• Duvall
• 1) married couples (without children)
• 2) childbearing families (oldest child, birth-30
  months)
• 3) families with preschool children (oldest
  child, 2.5-6 years)
• 4) families with school children (oldest child,
  6-13 years)
• 5) families with teenagers (oldest child 13-20
  years)
• 6) families as launching centres (first child
  gone to last child leaving home)
• 7) middle age parents (empty nest to retirement)
• 8) aging family members (retirement to death of
  both spouses)

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Family Life Course Development Framework
Theme Families experience predictable changes over time.
Key Concepts Family life cycle Developmental tasks On-time transitions Role sequencing
Current Research Transition to adulthood Marriage and parenthood Pathways to family formation
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Structure-Functional Perspective on the Family

• Emphasizes the interdependency of the many parts
  of a society
• Function purpose or contribution that a social
  unit or social institution fulfills to maintain
  society

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Structure-Functional Perspective
Theme The family performs essential functions for society.
Key Concepts Social institution Family structure Family functions Functional alternatives
Current Research Cross-cultural and historical comparisons Analysis of emerging family structures Critique of contemporary family
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Exchange Theory Perspective on the Family

• Rooted in Greek hedonism
• Rests on the belief that human beings try to make
  choices maximize rewards, minimize costs

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Exchange Theory Examples

• Willard Waller uses the principle of least
  interest to explain the selection of intimate
  partners.
• George Homans (1958) people seek relationships
  that will be rewarding
• Price and McKenry (1988) outlined a number of
  attractions to marriage, barriers to divorce, and
  alternatives to marriage.

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Exchange Theory Perspective
Theme The resources that individuals bring to a relationship or family affect formation, continuation, nature of a relationship, and power dynamics of a relationship.
Key Concepts Resources Rewards and costs Family power Social networks Social support
Current Research Family power Entry and exit from marriage Family violence Network-derived social support
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Family Systems Theory

• Family as a holistic unit, is a system,
• Husband-wife relationship is a subsystem
• Each family members behaviour affects every
  other member.

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Family Systems Theory
Theme The family as a whole is more than the sum of its parts.
Key Concepts System Equilibrium Boundaries Family therapy
Current Research Family efficacy and crisis management Family boundaries
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Conflict Perspective on the Family

• Based on the following assumptions
• 1) social relationships are rife with conflicting
  interest thus
• 2) social systems systematically generate
  conflict which
• 3) is an inevitable and pervasive feature of all
  social systems and
• 4) tends to be manifested in the opposition of
  interests that
• 5) occurs over the distribution of scarce
  resources which
• 6) results in change in social systems

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Conflict and Feminist Perspective on the Family
Theme Gender is central to the analysis of family male dominance in family and society is oppressive of women.
Key Concepts Male dominance Power and inequality Sex/gender systems
Current Research Work and family Domestic violence Family power Advocacy of womens issues
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Feminist Perspective on the Family

• 5 basic premises
• social construction of gender
• committed to general equality and social change
• question the family
• put their beliefs into action
• emphasizes the centrality of womens lives and
  experiences

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Biosocial Perspective on the Family

• Roots in Charles Darwins ideas about natural
  selection and survival of the fittest
• Family is an evolutionary adaptation to the
  problem of the survival of human infants and
  children

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Biosocial Perspective on the Family
Theme Evolution has put in place certain biological endowments that shape and limit family choices.
Key Concepts Evolutionary heritage Genes Inclusive fitness
Current Research Correlations between biological markers and family behavior Evolutionary explanations for gender differences and sexuality
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Attachment Theory Perspective on the Family

• Many different views
• Classification
• secure attachment,
• anxious-ambivalent attachment
• anxious-avoidant attachment

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Attachment Theory Perspective on the Family
Theme Attachment style is established at a young age, and continues to influence ones adult relationships
Key Concepts Secure, insecure/anxious, and avoidant attachment styles
Current Research Impact of personality upon relationship choices Impact of parenting upon attachment