Florida State University Sociology Department SYO3100 Family Problems and Social Change Dr Gloria T Lessan Fall 2011 Study Guide 1 CAVEAT The study guide is NOT a contract that defines the test Whenever pertinent use all class materials B R and Bb Course Library Lecture Notes and Bb Course Library Extra Readings to answer the questions below Learning Objectives Means Define illustrate and differentiate among basic concepts of social groups social category group types family marriage and family patterns Q 1 2 3 4 5 Discuss myth and reality about the structure functions and gender age roles of American family members Q 1 6 7 10 Summarize the structural characteristics of current and future American families Q 8 9 11 12 Summarize the historical changes of families in American society Describe how immigration patterns influence the composition of American families Q 12 13 14 15 16 Distinguish the basic arguments of major Sociological perspectives on the study of marriage and the family Identify strengths and weaknesses of each theory Q 17 18 19 20 21 Identify the requirements for scientific research List and describe several research techniques employed in the analysis of marriage and the family Q 22 23 24 25 1 Which institution is the backbone of society Why Include in your answer reference to what a social institution is and the functions it serves The family is the backbone of society because it serves five essential functions that are needed for societies survival Family fulfils the functions of regulating sexual activity incest consent laws procreation new members of society and socialization learning language etc economic security food shelter clothing emotional support and social class placement wealth education 2 Distinguish between the family and a family The Family the family is the definition offered by tradition and the US Census Bureau Traditionally it is defined as a unit made up of two or more people who are related by blood marriage or adoption live together form an economic unit and bear and raise children The US Census Bureau defines the family as simply two or more people living together who are related by birth marriage or adoption A Family is an intimate group of two or more people who live together in a committed relationship care for one another and any children and share activities and close emotional ties 3 Is the perception of what a family is held by the public the same as the official definition of the family Census Yes society believes in the traditional view which includes marriage and procreation Not all agree with the definition of a family but more the definition of the family 4 Define and illustrate the following concepts constructs social group social category group types marriage cohabitation conjugal family nuclear family traditional family single parent family blended family extended family endogamy exogamy monogamy polygamy stepfamily patrilineal descent matrilineal descent bi lineal descent matriarchy patriarchy neo local residence family household non family household kinship family of orientation family of procreation patri local residence matri local residence homogamy heterogamy serial monogamy and divorce Social Group two or more people who interact with one another and share similar characteristics that give them a sense of unity Social Category is a social class a category of people who have similar standing or rank in society based on their wealth education power prestige and other valued resources Group Types Primary groups are characterized by close long lasting intimate and face to face interaction Family Secondary groups are characterized by impersonal and short term relationships in which people work together on common tasks or activities co workers Marriage a socially approved mating relationship Cohabitation a living arrangement in which two unrelated people are unmarried but live together and are in a sexual relationship Conjugal Family is a nuclear family of a married couple with without children who keeps family ties inward there is a big focus on just themselves and ties with extended kin are weak Nuclear Family a family made up of a wife a husband and their biological or adopted children Traditional family a unit made up of two or more people who are related by blood marriage or adoption live together form an economic unit and bear and raise children Single parent Family a nontraditional family one parent and children Blended Family Step Family a family in which one or both members of the couple have children from a previous marriage they may or may not have children together Extended Family Consists of parents children as well as other kin such as aunts uncles nieces nephews cousins grandparents Endogamy or homogomy requires people to marry or have sexual relations within a certain group religion race social class etc Exogomy or heterogomy requires marriage outside the group such as not marrying relatives same race etc Monogamy only have one spouse at any given time Polygamy A marriage that includes two or more partners Patrilineal Decent A kinship system in which children trace their family descent through their father s line and property is passed on to male heirs Matrilineal Descent A kinship system in which children trace their family descent through their mother s line and property is passed on to female heirs Bi lineal Descent A system of family decent where blood links and rights of inheritance through both male and female ancestors are of equal importance Matriarchy a system in which the oldest females usually grandmothers and mothers control cultural political and economic resources and consequently have power over males Patriarchy a system in which the oldest males generally grandfathers and fathers uncles control political cultural and economic resources and have consequently power over females Neo Local Residence A residential pattern in which newly married couples set up their own residence rather than live with either set of parents Family Household A family household is a household maintained by a householder who is in a family and includes any unrelated people unrelated subfamily members and or secondary individuals who may be residing there 4 families with 3 members each would have 4 Family Household 12 people and 4 families each with 3 members Non Family Household A person living alone or with only people who are not in their family Kinship Connection or blood marriage or adoption Family of Orientation