Chapter 3, Exploring the Family Theoretical Perspectives on the Family Studying Families

Theoretical Perspectives on the Family Family ecology Family development Structure-functionalism Interactionist perspective

Theoretical Perspectives on the Family Exchange theory Family systems theory Feminist perspectives Biosocial perspectives

Family Ecology Perspective Explores how the family influences and is influenced by the environments arround it. Encourages researchers to investigate how families can create environments that improve their quality of life. Concerned with how to influence the effects that the broader society has on families.

Family Ecology Perspective Weaknesses So broad and inclusive that nothing is left out and it can be difficult for analysts to focus on specifics. Sometimes the application is limited to poverty and disadvantaged.

Family Development Perspective Based on the idea that the family changes in predictable ways over time Emerged and became popular from the 1930’s to 1950’s when the nuclear family was common. Assumes that family life follows certain conventional patterns.

Family Life Cycle: Stages Newly established couple Families of preschoolers Families of primary school children Families with adolescents Families in the middle years. Aging families

Structure-Functional Perspective The family is a social institution that performs essential functions: 1. Raise children. 2. Provide economic support. 3. Give emotional security.

Interactionist Perspective Looks within families at internal family dynamics. Refuses to identify a “natural” family structure. Weaknesses: Difficult to test empirically. Assume interaction is the same in all settings. Overestimates the power of individuals to create their own realities.

Exchange Theory Based on the premise that people use their resources to bargain and secure advantage in relationships. Relationships based on equitable exchanges thrive, those in which the exchange feels one- sided are more likely to dissolve.

Family Systems Theory Looks at the family as a whole that is more than the sum of the parts. There is pressure on a changing family member to revert to original behavior within the family system. Without therapeutic intervention, families may replicate problem behaviors over generations.

Feminist Perspectives Focus is on gender issues and how male dominance is oppressive to women. Developed from political and social movements over the past 30 years. Mission is to use knowledge to actively confront and end the oppression of women and related patterns of subordination.

Feminist Theories Contributions to Political Action Changes in policies that economically weaken households headed by women. Changes in laws that reinforce the privileges of men and heterosexual nuclear families versus other family types.

Feminist Theories Contributions to Political Action Efforts to stop sexual harassment and violence against women and children. Advances in securing women’s reproductive freedom. Recognition and support for women’s unpaid work.

Biosocial Perspectives Human’s evolutionary biology affects human behavior and family-related behaviors. Behavior is oriented to the survival and reproduction of close kin and direct descendents. Biological predisposition doesn’t mean that a person’s behavior cannot be influenced or changed by social structure.

Scientific Investigation: Techniques Surveys Laboratory observation and experiments Naturalistic observation Clinician’s case studies Longitudinal studies Historical and cross-cultural data