Family Theories Why do we have theories about families Curiosity satisfaction To answer and respond to questions Important aspects of theories 1 Theories answer questions about What is going on 2 Theories are intellectual models frameworks or sets of ideas that exist in a scientific field 3 Theories give us power of explanation challenge defiance 4 There is no one grand theory that will explain everything about families 5 Theories are helpful 6 Theories provide perspective Definitions Theorizing The process of systematically formulating and organizing ideas to understand a particular phenomenon Theory o A set of interconnected ideas interrelated propositions that emerge from this process o Mental models or intellectual diagrams we use to think with Concepts Specific terminology abstractions that symbolize the categories of reality that the theory treats Our Focus frameworks as eyeglasses For theories to be about families they must 1 Contain at least one family concept 2 Determine the definition of family Two main themes of Family Theories 1 Theories of external control Contain elements of determinism Developmental Theories Structural Functionalism and Conflict Theory Highlight people s ability to determine their own behavior free will Social Exchange Family Systems and Symbolic Interactionism 2 Theories that Emphasize the Power of the People Main focus existence of change over time unilateral gradual cannot be reversed no society skips a stage essential nature of society is to change Developmental Theories Assumptions o Stages distinctive transitions o Achievement of tasks o Epigenesis o Conditions of change Main focus social systems and their functions influence on current politics Analyzes structure of family constituent roles to define level of functioning Assumptions Structural Functionalism o Systems function goal directed o Structures influence functions o Functions require particular structures o Prerequisites for society to exist o Systems seek equilibrium Theory asks How a person s behavior is affected by the behavior of other people and by social institutions How does this behavior in turn affect the behavior of other people Conflict Theory Main focus conflict is normal and inevitable Assumptions o Family directed towards conflict regulation o Underlying competitive structure in families o Family relations characterized by struggle o Conflict is not necessarily negative may be constructive productive o Thesis Antithesis Synthesis Conflict is inevitable because o Scarce resources time money love space o Inequality struggle for power social stratification o Coalitions when two people work against a third dependent on situation members involved o Quest for individuality differences in opinion Functions of Conflict o Release stress o Promote unity Main focus rewards costs of relationships unpleasant unwanted consequences Assumptions Social Exchange Theory o Social behaviors are a series of exchanges o Maximize rewards reduce costs o Will accept certain costs o Obligation of reciprocity 1 Dependence of Power o The more a person perceives that the rewards they receive from a relationship cannot be obtained elsewhere the more dependent they become o The more dependent you are the less power you possess o Rarely do people have same emotional investment and thus power in a relationship 2 Perceptions 3 Expectations 4 Comparison Level o Viewpoint yet not reality of the actual cost benefit o People bring expectations to new experiences based on prior experiences o People evaluate rewards and costs by their opinion of what the relationship should bring CRITIQUES OF SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY Foundations of altruism How do you explain acts that seem to have no reward and are not rational Mother saving child example Expectations are related to satisfaction More satisfied more apt to invest Symbolic Interactionism Main focus to study the reflective nature of people Assumptions o Humans act according to meanings o Meanings are created in social interaction o Meanings are handled and modified in interactions 1 Notion of Self 2 Looking Glass Self Our image of ourselves is a mirror reflection of what others tell us about ourselves 3 Self fulfilling Prophesy Importance in Families 4 roles spousal sibling Perception is reality o One s perception of an event bears the power to contribute to consequences and outcomes o How we view events and our family shape our expectations and goals which then direct our own thoughts and behaviors Consensus o The more consensus a family and community have the less strain an individual has about his her designated role in the system o Similar to the idea of Cognitive Dissonance Main focus Family Systems Theory o Studies how the system functions as a whole o Holism not Reductionism o Parts or elements of a system are interconnected and strive for balance as they define boundaries and achieve goals o Family processes are at the core of research and practice o Focus on communication o Marriage and family therapy 2 Focus on processes holistic aspect to theory Central Assumptions 1 Elements that comprise a system are not the individuals in the family but the patterns in the processes as the individuals interact o System o Subsystem o Environment urban v rural home neighborhood religious and political institutions o Wholeness o Interdependence o Ongoing net consequence of actions reactions perceptions interpretations of family members o Related to and dependent upon past and current behaviors 3 Families as systems have boundaries and so do their subsystems Boundaries the interface between systems point of interaction 1 Open external physical psychological limitations 2 Closed external 3 Loose 4 Rigid 4 Families are self regulating systems o Determined by the physical and mental awareness of family members o Adaptive self regulation Inputs enter system pets money for resource management traumatic stress step parent baby change in family membership nurture time energy Outputs love security bonding support learning abuse resentment Feedback any deviation triggers warning signals in family Homeostasis Mechanism quest for balance o Feedback Loop When the feedback in a family system signals the occurrence of change the family can respond in ways that suppress or facilitate continued change Deviation amplifying feedback loop maintains or increases the change responses are perceived as desirable Deviation dampening feedback loop decreases or eliminates the change 5 Explore