Chap 14 Assignment Questions

According to Family Systems Theory (FST), a family is an interconnected system, with each subsystem affecting every other subsystem. Thus, when predicting the effects of parenting on child outcomes, triadic family interactions should provide unique information, beyond that of the summed effects of mother-child and father-child interactions (Minuchin, 1985; Cox & Paley, 2003). Competitive co-parenting in triadic family interactions is characterized by one adult undermining the other in order to take control of parenting or to win favor with the child over the other parent (McHale, 1995). In this pattern, parents

During the years, single parent families have become a more common thing. This is starting to become a problem, because family dynamics can really influence a child’s life. According to studies it affects not only the child but the parents too.

Managing family life for a married couple with children can sometimes be a complicated task with taking care of children, maintaining employment or school, and not to mention being able to maintain effective communication between spouses. Being a mother in today’s society come with certain rules that are fit for that role, and that goes for fathers and their gender role in the household, however, society norms that enforces gender typical roles are not always the perfect fit for every family. This paper is centered around the Clark family that are having the same issues that are discussed previously, such as taking care of their three children, having a parent that is working and trying to pursue

Over the past decades, the patterns of family structure have changed dramatically in the United States. The typical nuclear family, two married parents with children living together in one household, is no longer the structure of the majority of the families today. The percentage of single-parent families, step-families and adopted families has increased significantly over the years. The nuclear family is a thing of the past. Family situations have tremendous influence upon a child’s academic achievement, behavior and social growth.

The majority of children in intact families have never experienced a marital disruption and live with both biological parents. This family structure has been theorized to have several benefits for children. First, children have easy access to both biological parents. One study based on mothers’ reports found higher parental involvement, more enjoyable parent-child interactions, and the fewest disagreements between children and parents among intact families (Acock and Demo, 1994). Intact families, however, may not be free of parental conflict (Simons et al., 1996), and the physical presence of parents does not ensure emotional presence (LaRossa, 1988). In other words, more time together does not necessarily mean high-quality time together (Acock and Demo, 1994).

On a national average, 5.1 percent of children under 18 live in a household with at least one step-parent (Kreider, 2003, p. 2). Society, as well as media, has given very little credit to blended-families or the positive impact it could have on a child. Moreover, families start out with a negative influences that can take destroy their sense of hope. Older children more so than younger children, go into the new relationship with a negative attitude, behavior issues, and resentment toward their step-parent and sometimes the biological parent (Kostelnik, Whiren, Soderman, Gregory, 2009, p.184). Competition usually occurs between all parties, (step) parent/child, (biological) parent/child. The biological dyad usually wins the competition because of their knowledge, history and interaction that they have built together and attachment that has taken place earlier in life (Dupuis, 2007; Pappernow, 1987). However, stepfamilies are not given the time to develop attachments with one another. The reorganization of the family is taking place, a two-parent home can bring financial security, less stress, which allows parents to be happier, more nurturing and able to display proper guidance techniques. Adults possess the skills to build and maintain positive relationships with multiple individuals at once. Children do not have that ability, but they do have the ability to love more than one adult at a time, especially if the adult in questions shows reciprocation

There are positive effects of growing up in a single-parent household, one prime effect is it can cause children to develop some very momentous traits. These momentous traits include, but are not limited to: developing stronger bonds, experiencing authentic community, establishing responsibility, learning to handle diversity, and learning to juggle competing priorities. Children that are raised in successful single-parent households often form close bonds with their parent, as they are closely dependent on each other throughout the children’s life. Children who have single parents will also have many supporters. Most cases, the extended family members will play a unique role in a child’s life. This will cause the children to form closer bonds with their extended family members and family friends, as well as others who have assisted in raising them. In addition, children brought up in successful single-parent families may exhibit strong responsibility skills, as they are often called upon to assist more with household chores and tasks. These

Family systems are essential to the healthy development of a child. Family systems and development go hand in hand. Children who come from a healthy family system are more likely to have a healthy development. Children who come from an unhealthy family system are more likely to have an unhealthy development. According to David V. Papero (2014), “Murray Bowen developed a family systems theory, called the Bowen theory, to distinguish it from other systems theories” (p. 386). Papero (2014) goes on to say that, “the theory proposes that emotional, physical, relational, and social symptoms in a person or set of relationships reflect disturbances in the family relationship system itself” (p. 386). It is vitally important for parents and other caregivers to help their children develop in a healthy manner. Although there might be some disturbances in a family system, the disturbance should not take precedent over the healthy development of a child.

Throughout history the beliefs that are thought to be normal, the distinct ways of living, are prominently changing. For instance, American families were thought to have one popular form the nuclear family. The nuclear family represented a middle class, white family, where the heterosexual parents are married and have children. In this type of family, the father was the breadwinner, meaning he works outside of the household to earn money to support this family. The mother was the homemaker; she would stay at home to take care of the children and the household. Families are important for the major functions of child rearing, caring for the elderly, and providing comfort and emotional support (Week 1, Lecture 1). However, families are changing within themselves. We started to see these drastic changes when women started moving into the workforce. Family structure is a concept that has changed drastically over time. Families presented in the media are complex and vary in structure.

Family is an interesting subject to discuss, as the “traditional” family structure has definitely changed, for example, in 2011 the U.S. Census Bureau, stated that 27.2% of American children under the age of 18 lived with one parent in 2007, in comparison to 1960, where around 9.1% of American children who lived in single-parent families in 1960 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004). Reiss (1981) stated that family shares world views, and together the value and belief systems give the family a meaning in a social context. As human beings are social beings, family is important because, that is the nucleus in where people learn their social cues and behaviors. Family communication has an immediate impact on the self- esteem of adolescents and this is prevalent in many facets of adolescent life, specifically dating.

Over the last 50 years, the meaning of family has changed and people of today’s world struggle to define family. Henslin et al (2014), defines family as ‘two or more people who consider themselves related by blood, marriage or adoption’ (p. 428). Due to the changes, this has also had an impact on family dynamics, which is now seen as complex. Family Dynamics has been defined as ‘the patterns of relating, or interactions, between family members’ (Psychologytoday.com, healthychildren.org 2017). These concepts are everlasting; therefore, they develop as society does. Family dynamics are ever changing by improving or disadvantaging today’s community. The family has changed in multiple ways from 50 years ago such as the roles of members of the family and the structure of families. The difference between families then and now is more prominent in the modern Australian society.

Two parent families, whether married or common law relationship, tend to be more stable. Partners or spouses are role model of a loving, caring and supportive relationship for their children. This will transform into future accomplishment by teaching children how to seek out positive relationships and interact well with others. These children will benefit from watching their parents work together to solve problems, assign domestic responsibilities and support each other through positive and negative

Over the life course, children will develop and grow as the essential encouragement and support evolves as they mature. Parents must be able to adapt their relationships to continue to provide the support their children require. Several theories can be applied to understand the parent-child relationship, some describing the changes in the relationship over time (Bigner & Gerhardt, 2014). The Developmental Interaction Theory describes the six stages experienced by families in the “evolution of one’s parenthood role observed in individuals as they grow and

Two parent families, whether married or common law relationship, tend to be more stable. Partners or spouses are role model of a loving, caring and supportive relationship for their children. This will transform into future accomplishment by teaching children how to seek out positive relationships and interact well with others. These children will benefit from watching their parents work together to solve problems, assign domestic responsibilities and support each other through positive and negative issues.

Trends in family formation are crucial in determining the kind of families that will exist in future generations. It is fact that the father- mother kind of families that have existed for many generations maintained over the years due to the belief that they were the ideal type of family set up. However, the trends in family formation today are changing as a growing number of families are experiencing several challenges such as divorce, single parent situations, financial problems, legal battles over custody and wealth and infidelity, among other challenges. These have caused young people to question whether the traditional way of doing things is practical in the twenty first century and many do not intend on following their parents’