HHS4M

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HHS4M

• Theoretical Perspectives for Studying Individuals
  Families

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Learning Goals

• By the end of this lesson you will understand
  eight theoretical perspectives.
• You will be able to compare the theories to each
  other.
• You will be able to evaluate the usefulness of
  each theory.

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Theories

• When scientists explain their observations, their
  answers reflect their theories
• Some theories have been used to explain human
  behaviour for many years
• Other theories have been revised and replaced
• Theories are NOT FACTS, just attempts to explain
  evidence

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MICRO vs MACRO Perspectives

• MACRO theories study the interaction between
  society and institutions such as the law, family,
  politics, etc.
• MICRO theories emphasize the relationships within
  individual families

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Theoretical Perspectives

• Functionalism
• Systems Theory
• Symbolic Interactionism
• Social Exchange Theory
• Developmental Theories
• Conflict Theory
• Feminist Theory
• Ecological Perspectives Theory

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Structural Functionalism

• MACRO Approach
• Attempts to explain how society is organized to
  perform required functions
• Focuses on how institutions, such as the law,
  political system, and the family function
• Assumes societies are stable when structures
  function to benefit society
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vlE-8QuBDkkw

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Structural Functionalism

• Examine the ROLES individuals play to contribute
  to the bigger picture
• Status a specific position within a social
  group
• Role the set of behaviours an individual is
  expected to demonstrate within a status
• Norm most prevalent behaviours in that role
• Example An individual with a father status is
  expected to take on behaviours such as working,
  child care and providing to fulfill his role. It
  is the norm for a father to work outside the
  household.

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Structural Functionalism

• Strengths of Approach
• Explains how family interacts with society
• Emphasizes family strengths rather than
  weaknesses
• Weaknesses/Criticisms of Approach
• -Does not explain why societies or families
  change
• -Change and individual differences are seen as
  disruptions
• -Only one acceptable form of family rather than
  many variations
• -Doesnt deal with interpersonal relationships

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Systems Theory

• MICRO AND MACRO
• Attempts to explain how groups of individuals
  interact as a system and influence each other
• A system is a set of interrelated parts
• Family systems have a complex organization
• Individuals within the system influence each
  other in a reciprocal way

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Systems Theory

• The family system changes when a change in one
  persons behaviour causes the behaviour of
  another to evolve
• The larger family system contains subsystems
  (father-child, mother-father)
• A genogram diagram depicts the relationships
  within a family system

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GenogramBelow is a genorgram of disaese patterns
within a family
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Systems Theory

• Advantages
• Explains the behaviour of individuals as
  inseparable from the group
• Explains why behaviour continues in destructive
  patterns even through generations
• Disadvantages
• Can be difficult to determine how others within
  the family are influencing an individuals
  behaviour
• Overlooks experience of individuals
• Social/Structural factors, such as unemployment
  are not taken into consideration

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Symbolic Interactionism

• MICRO Approach
• A psychological theory that attempts to explain
  how individual choose how they will act based on
  their perceptions of themselves and of others
• People define and interpret their experiences and
  give meaning to them
• Couples Retreat
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v0TmugJo-c9Yfeature
  related

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Symbolic Interactionism

• Me objective qualities (tall, male, student)
• I subjective self (good student, shy, lonely)
• Role taking being able to anticipate how
  others will respond
• Communication requires common language and use of
  shared symbols

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Cooleys Looking Glass Self

• I am not what I think I am. I am not what you
  think I am. I am what I think you think I am

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Symbolic Interactionism

• Advantages
• Emphasizes mental processes and takes individual
  perception and interpretations into consideration
• Sense of individual control
• Explains importance of shared symbols and
  communication
• Disadvantages
• Observations of researchers may be influenced by
  the researchers interpretations
• Pays little attention to the impact of wider
  society and does not explain society-wide changes
  in families

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Social Exchange Theory

• MICRO approach
• A psychological theory that attempts to explain
  the social factors that influence reciprocal
  relationships
• People act to maximize the benefits and minimize
  costs to themselves
• Individuals interpret their experiences in terms
  of costs vs. benefits

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Social Exchange Theory

• Relationships are stable when the benefits that
  each person receives balance the costs of the
  relationships
• This theory is used to explain how individuals
  make decisions to form and maintain relationships
  that may be seen as unacceptable to others

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Social Exchange Theories

• Weaknesses
• -A limitation of this theory is that some people
  are offended by the cost/benefit analysis
• -Attempts to explain individual behaviour and
  needs and pays less attention to family dynamics

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Developmental Theories

• An interdisciplinary MICRO approach to describe
  patterns to explain growth and change throughout
  the human life cycle
• Developmental Tasks role expectations that
  challenge people to develop
• Erik Erikson people develop individual
  identities separate from their parents to make
  the transition to adulthood

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Developmental Theories

• Examine biological, psychological, social and
  cultural factors that influence development
• Different factors at different ages
• Outline predictable stages marked by normative
  events
• At each stage there are developmental
  prerequisites
• One must complete on developmental task to move
  onto the next

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Developmental Theories

• Disadvantages
• Not all stages will fit all families or
  individuals
• Some families will experience non-normative
  events such as death of a child, etc
• Stages make the theory restrictive because they
  do not always occur in order, or occur at all

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Conflict Theory

• A MACRO interdisciplinary sociological and
  political theory
• Explains how power (ability to control the
  behaviour of another) holds a society together
• Conflict exists because of inequalities
• Groups compete with each other to meet their needs

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Conflict Theory

• Describes the relationship of men and women
  within a family as one of exploitation and
  oppression, and is used for analyzing power and
  authority within the family
• Developed in the 19th century when there were
  large social inequalities in society
• Disadvantage
• Negative approach

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Feminist Theories

• A branch of conflict theories
• Developed in the second half of the 20th century
  to explain the impact of sex and gender on
  behaviour
• Considers issues from the point of view of women

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Feminist Theories

• Argue that change is required so that the needs
  of all people are met
• Attempts to explain social inequalities between
  men and women from a variety of female
  perpectives
• Socialist feminism is based on the assumption
  that the status of women is a social inequality
  rooted in the sexual division of paid vs. unpaid
  labour

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Ecological Perspective

• A modern psychological theory that looks at
  individuals families as interlocking systems
  within society that influence each other
• Combines aspects of systems theory
  developmental theories
• Advantages
• -Explains diversity of developmental behaviour
  tha cant be explained by develpmental theory
  alone
• -Recognizes the influence of others in
  relationships, but extends to influences outside
  family
• Disadvantages
• -Less useful for investigating individual
  situations

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Ecological Perspective

• Individuals Familes are influenced on 4 levels
  (1) Microsystem An individual develops behaviour
  to meet own needs
• (2) Mesosystem Small groups to which
  individual belongs socials indviduals in ways
  influenced by society
• (3) Exosystem Socio-economic environment sets
  expectations and influences resources available
• (4) Macrosystem Society in which person lives
  influences behaviour

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