Chapter 5 Adolescents in the Family System economic term of family to work together to produce and consume social term of family to promote the survival comfort and support their members generational term of family provide a way to accumulate the skills and knowledge of older people and make sure these skills are passed down to the younger members most important role of a family is to bear care for raise and train the children socialization the process through which children acquire the attitudes beliefs behaviors and skills that their parents and culture consider appropriate through socialization children learn to control impulses interact with others become competent well adapted members of their culture Robert LeVine says families in society have 3 basic goals for their children make sure they survive to adulthood have the skills attitudes so they can support themselves economi cally as adults and encourage other social values like achievement social advancement cre ativity and self fulfillment Families ad Dynamic Systems parents influence their children but children as influence their parents families form complex social systems of relationships that are constantly responding to the changing circumstances Positive and Negative Feedback Loops positive feedback loop a system in which an increase or decrease in one connected factor leads to a change in the same direction in the other connected factor negative feedback loop a system in which a change in one connected factor leads to change in the opposite direction in the other connected factor negative feedback tends to keep a system stable while positive feedback tends to change it Disequilibrium and Phase Transitions disequilibrium in a family system a situation in which their is significant change in a family member or in a relationship between family members ex puberty phase transitions a period of change in a family system during which minor events may have far reaching consequences Changing Functions and Expectations with adolescence family as the central focus of a the child s life changes Friends become the teens expect to have a say more in family matters while parents expect their rules to be fol lowed without question This leads to a conflict As technology and society changes parents are less likely to have the knowledge that applies new importance to their young Extended Families nuclear family a single set of parents and their children mostly an American concept extended family a family that includes grandparents aunts and uncles and other kin as well as parents and children mostly common around African Americans Asian Americans Mexican Americans etc being in close contact with other family besides parents gives adolescents more emotional support Parents and Parenting Parentiong Dimensions and Styles there are two dimensions or aspects of the ways that pernts treat their children Parenting Dimensions dimensions are acceptance responsiveness a dimension of child rearing that includes giving praise warmth and affection and paying attention to children s wants needs and concerns this doesn t mean that parents take the attitude that whatever you do is fine reponsiveness in other words is that they listen demandingness control a dimension of child rearing that includes setting rules stating expectations clearly and monotoring the child to make sure that the rules are followed and ex pectations are met Parenting Styles there are four parenting styles authorative parents those who are both responsive and demanding set clear standards and goals for their children listen to their child s perspective but make clear that they are in charge explain reasons for rules are warm and accepting authoritarian parents those who are demanding but not responsive the do as your told because I said so parents expect obedience at all times punishement is strict harsh and often physical do not show much affection indulgent parents those who are responsive but not demanding do not place many demands on their children children are allowed to do as they please discipline is rare inconsistent children are encourage to feel like equals to the parents indifferent parents those who are neither responsive nor demanding spend hardly any time on their children results from active rejection like an unwanted pregnancy or a vivid reminder of the dislike of their former partner show little concern or little affection for their children Adolescent Outcomes adolescents with authoritative families show the most favorable outcomes Do better in school are more independent self assured less anxious depressed less likely to be deli quent or use drugs adolescents from authoritarian familes are more dependent and passive Less self assured have weak self esteem and communication skills adolescents from indulgent families tend to be more immature and irresponsible more influ enced by friends and peers adolescents from indifferent parents show little interest in school or work and more likely to be deliquents early sexual activity and drug use goodness of fit the relationship between the demands and expectations of parents and the temperament of the child Ethnic and Cultural Differences parents in diffuclt environments may rely on authoritarian measures to keep the children safe A Fifth Parenting Style parents in traditional cultures put emphasis on parent authory and a lot of parental warmth traditional parenting style is the most common patern in North America and Europe Authoritative Parenting for Everyone Autonomy and Control autonomy an ability to act independently and a willingness to take responsibility for one s ac tions Two Sorts of Autonomy emotional autonomy the ability to function without having to rely on others such as par ents to provide a sense of comfort and security a teen who is emotionally autonomous does not need to depend on parents for comfort behavioral autonomy the ability to make one s own decisions and take responsibility for them Behavioral and Psychological Control its not about how much controlthat plays a role but the kind of control that parents have over their children two sorts of control behavioral control and psychological control behavioral control the rules and lmits parents place on their children s activities ex curfews chores and good manners the focus is on guiding and controlling the child s behavior psychological control trying to contorl children by acting on their thoughts and feelings this includes inducing guilt