1. Role of the Family in Human Development
Although we often look at human development from an individual perspective, the role of the family unit in human development cannot be ignored. Families are a central feature of human development across all life stages. Each developmental stage affects the whole family, not just individual family members. Each stage sets tasks and challenges for all family members. The following example of the Smith family will help demonstrate the family interconnections of human growth and development.

2. John Smith John Mrs. Smith Mrs. Smith Mary Susan
John is the middle child in the Smith family. He is 13 years old and has two sisters—Mary, 18 and Susan, 10. The children live with their parents in an upscale Washington DC neighborhood. John’s father travels frequently for work and is up for a big job promotion. John has noticed tension between his parents for many months now, and his mother seems depressed and distant. John, an average student, has always been a good kid—quiet and always minding his manners. However, recently he has been in frequent trouble for truancy and disruptive behavior in school, and was recently suspended for 2 days for behavioral misconduct. John teases his younger sister incessantly, calling her a “bookworm” and a “geek” and making fun of her for spending all her time alone in her room. Sneaking into the back door at home one afternoon after skipping class, John overheard his father yelling in the kitchen, angrily telling Mrs. Smith that he was giving up his promotion and taking a leave of absence from work to “tend to family matters.” John felt scared, but also relieved, that his father would be around more and would not be as lenient as his mother in punishing him for his bad behavior. A few days later, John was secretly happy when his older sister Mary showed up at home, telling him she dropped out of college to come home and help take care of the family. While John’s mother seemed happy about Mary’s return, John’s father was furious with Mary.
What are some of the developmental issues you see occurring here? Are these individual issues, or could family dynamics be an integral factor? Can individual issues be successfully resolved without addressing family dynamics?
John
Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Smith
Mary
Susan

3. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
What developmental issues are the Smith parents facing?
How is parental conflict affecting the Smith children?
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are facing many issues commonly encountered in middle adulthood. Mr. Smith is feeling the pressures of work-family conflict, being pulled in multiple directions in balancing career growth with being a parent, a husband, and the primary breadwinner for the family. The demands of his job have likely put a strain on the marriage, and he may be feeling consternation with Mrs. Smith that she is not handling the problems with John’s behavior in his absence. Mrs. Smith is dealing with Mary being away at college, the challenges of a teenage boy, and an often absent husband. In her struggles, she may be neglecting to spend important time with her youngest daughter.
The children in families are often very in tune to the health of their parents’ relationship. Conflict between parents can create anxiety, stress, and acting out in childhood and adolescence. John, Susan, and Mary are all likely being affected by the strained relationship between their mother and father, but in very different ways. Children who experience chronic family conflict are more likely to have similar problems in their own adulthood. But if Mr. and Mrs. Smith can work constructively to solve their problems, adverse long-term effects on their children can be averted.
Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Smith

4. Mary
How does the family situation influence Mary’s development in her young adulthood?
Will Mary’s return to home provide her parents some relief, or cause more stress for them because she is placing her own life on hold?
Mary is transitioning to young adulthood, going off to college and establishing her own independence. However, her role is not changing as expected. She may be taking on more responsibility for others than is often expected at this stage of young adulthood. She may be experiencing anxiety about her parents’ troubled marriage and her mother’s ability to cope. She may be feeling a sense of responsibility to help support the family now that she is an ‘adult.’ She may be particularly concerned about young Susan, who has been isolating herself. Parents often hold high expectations for the first-born, thus Mr. Smith’s apparent anger over Mary’s decision to put college on hold to return home. On the other hand, Mrs. Smith may be feeling some relief that she may have some additional support.
Mary

5. John
What adolescent development issues do you see occurring with John?
How is John’s behavior affecting the developmental process in other family members?
John, in his early adolescence, is testing the waters with his aberrant behaviors. He may be struggling to achieve some identity and exert his developing independence by skipping classes. Maybe his delinquency is a reflection of the conflict between his parents. Perhaps John is trying to get the attention of his frequently absent father and distant mother. Sensing the difficulties in his parents’ relationship with each other, perhaps John is acting out to provide a way for them to work together and focus on something other than their own conflicts. This situation is a reflection of the changing relationships and boundaries and the socioemotional parent/teenager conflicts that often arise during adolescence.
John’s behavior is affecting other family members in multiple ways. John’s behavior and truancy concerns are likely not a cause of, but certainly adding stress to, his parents’ already strained relationship. It has become enough of a concern that Mr. Smith has had to make a major decision that could significantly affect his career status. Mrs. Smith, who is preoccupied with her own personal struggles, may be unable to deal with parenting decisions involving John. John may be especially hard on younger sister Susan because he is getting in trouble with his parents and she is not. This can negatively impact the sibling relationship between John and his younger sister. On the other hand, John has an opportunity to rely on his older sister, Susan, for the guidance he may feel is not forthcoming from his parents. John may also seek help from Susan in trying to make sense of their parents’ struggling relationship.
John

6. Susan
What childhood developmental issues make Susan vulnerable during this time?
Would you consider her behavior normal or abnormal in this situation?
A child’s development can be strongly influenced by how well the family unit functions. The kind of care and attention a child receives during their early years of life can affect how they handle conflicts, form relationships with others, and learn to cooperate and trust. Susan, at age 10, can make some decisions independently but still relies heavily on parental guidance and nurturing. She has the ability to step into another’s shoes, and sense stress and emotions in others. When Susan sees her parents fight, it may be jeopardizing her sense of family stability. Isolating herself may be her way of coping and feeling safe. In Susan’s eyes, avoiding contact means avoiding conflict. She may also be trying to shield herself from her brother’s incessant teasing. Susan may be able to seek solace and reassurance from her older sister who has returned from college to offer support.
Susan

7. Summary
Although the Smith family may be an extreme example and not typical of every family, it is clear that the structure and health of the family unit can have a significant impact on the developmental process at any age. The importance of family in human development cannot be underestimated. While not the sole determinant of an individual’s life, family clearly shapes human development in unmistakable ways.