1. Family Relationships Family Systems approach
Dyadic, triadic, quadradic relationships, all influencing each other
Change causes disequilibrium
Adolescence a time of normal disequilibrium
Less closeness with parents, esp. mom

2. Parents at midlife
Midlife is generally a happy and positive stage of life – often much stress with teens, though
Once children leave home, generally parents’ happiness improves

3. Sibling relationships
Types: caregiver, buddy, criticism, rival, casual
“traditional” cultures – caregiver type most common
U.S. - Typically more conflict between sibs than other dyads – level of closeness reported as fairly low
Traditional cultures – conflict low – established status differences
Typically very important relationships, and source of emotional support

4. Extended family
Traditional cultures – males remain in home, females move out into home of husband
Traditional cultures – live with extended family in same home
Closeness to grandparents facilitated by the fact that they are not the child’s disciplinarian
More important in lives of American “minority” groups

5. Parenting Styles Diana Baumrind Demandingness, responsiveness
Authoritative, Authoritarian, Indulgent, Indifferent
Class origins; middle class promotes autonomy, working class promotes obedience
4,000 U.S. adolescents age 14-18

6. Indulgent – caring but too permissive
Outcomes
Authoritarian – too much control, little warmth - dictator approach – you must obey me!
low grades, self-esteem, social skills, dependent, passive, conforming
Indulgent – caring but too permissive
low grades, impulse-control, irresponsible, conforming, immature
Indifferent – little care and control
low self-esteem, impulse-control, impulsive, delinquent, early sex, drugs
Authoritative – teaches self-control through positive discipline – and provides much warmth
high grades, self-reliance, control, social skills, independent, creative, self-confident, socially skilled

7. Parenting effects cont’d
Probably follows style used in childhood
Parents are not exactly the same
Inconsistency between parents predicts poorer outcomes in teens
Reciprocal or bidirectional effects
Authoritative parenting rare outside the U.S.
Respect, power, go with age and generational status in most of the world (this is why many cultures have difficulty with the exportation of our culture through TV throughout the world)
Baumrind now calls the typical non-western parenting style traditional parenting – high demandingness (obedience), high responsiveness
India – emphasis on self-sacrifice; little discussion of rules (would be an affront to parental authority – contrast with “Bend it Like Beckam”)

8. Parenting Styles
Diana Baumrind

9. Attachment to parents Bowlby, Ainsworth Secure, insecure
Internal working model - Secure base
S.A. in adolescence associated with secure relationships with peers and others, autonomy, lower rates of depression,

10. Parent-adolescent conflict
Lots of disagreements over trivial things
Mostly tied to parents “letting go” or having difficulty with this
U.S. – teens gain power in family hierarchy
More conflict in early adolescence, and among early maturing adolescents
Conflict over responsibility for decisions
Biologically, late adolescents are meant to be out on their own, making their own decisions

11. Rise of divorce rate, single-parent families, dual-worker families
Non-western cultures – ties to family are more likely economic, promoting interdependence; petty conflicts more rare than in U.S.
Collectivistic ethnotheory
Rise of divorce rate, single-parent families, dual-worker families

12. Emerging adults’ relationships with parents
Leaving home in U.S. usually improves relationships
Remaining in the home in Europe usually results in good relationships

13. Family Disruption Divorce, remarriage, etc
Children of divorced parents more likely to experience problems
Related to trust, internal working model
Exposure to family conflict
Divorce during early adolescence
Divorce affects quality of parenting
Affects parents directly
Burden usually falls on mother
Remarriage usually not better – more problems

14. Physical and Sexual abuse
Majority who abuse were abused
But majority who were abused don’t abuse their own children
Abusers more likely to experience parental conflict, harsh discipline, or loss of parent
Best predictors of abuse are parental stress and poverty, psychological problems, and substance abuse
Boys = physically abused, girls=sexually abused
More likely by stepfathers
Physical abuse leads to aggression, antisocial behavior, substance abuse, depression, academic problems
Sexual abuse = difficulty trusting others, impulsive sexuality, depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, substance abuse