Download Family Development Theory

Family Development Theory
Rodgers, R. H., & White, J. M.
(1993). Family development theory. In
P. G. Boss, W. J. Doherty, R. LaRossa,
W. R. Schumm, & S. K. Steinmetz
(Eds.), Sourcebook of family theories
and methods: A contextual approach
(pp. 225-254). New York: Plenum
Press.
Assumptions That Have Misdirected
Family Development Theory
 Teleology: family development has some end or
goal, an assumption which was influenced by
child development.
 Determinism
 Behavior can be predicted: ignorance and
measurement error impede complete
understanding.
 Mistaken view: if certain conditions are met,
families will successfully move to the next
“normative” stage.
 Determinism made causal claims “that
bordered on moral righteousness” (Rodgers &
White, 1993, p. 227).
 Levels of Analysis: four levels of analysis were
considered distinct, but it has been difficult to
always clearly distinguish them.
 Individuals.
 Relationships.
 Family group.
 The institution of the family.
 Logical Criteria: theoretical concepts need to meet
strict logical criteria
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Theoretical Reformulation
 Components of a Definition of Family:
 the sector of social life that is organized,
 the institutional nature of organizing norms,
 and the nature of the group being organized.
 Definition: “an intergenerational social group
organized and governed by social norms
regarding descent and affinity, reproduction, and
the nurturant socialization of the young” (White,
1991).
 Table 10-1 reviews levels of analysis and
research examples.
 Norm: pattern of commonly held behavioral
expectations; it is a learned response.
 Norms feature both social expectations and
behavior.
 Static norms: “regulate behavior and
expectations within an age grouping.”
 Process norms: “regulate timing and
sequencing of expectations and behavior.”
 Role: an integrated or related subset of norms
associated with a social position
 Position: “point or location within a particular type
of social structure.”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Table 10.1: Levels of Analysis and
Example of Concepts
Level of
Analysis
Measures & Unit
of Observation
Concepts
Individual
Individual Family
Members
Marital Status
Relationships
Minimum Unit is
the Dyad
Consensus
Group
Minimum Unit is a Cohesion, Stability
Relationship
Regulated by Social
Norms of Marriage
and Family
Institution
Unit is Aggregate
Behavior
(marriages and
families)
Institutional Norms
regulating Marriage
and Family
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Static Concepts
 Norm: pattern of commonly held
behavioral expectations; it is a learned
response.
 Norms feature both social expectations and
behavior.
 Static norms: “regulate behavior and
expectations within an age grouping.”
 Process norms: “regulate timing and
sequencing of expectations and behavior.”
 Role: an integrated or related subset of
norms associated with a social position
 Position: “point or location within a
particular type of social structure.”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Static Concepts (cont.)
 Stage: family group structure is used to
define stages (see Figure 10-1). There
are three criteria for determining stages:
 The set of stages should be exhaustive and
exclusive.
 The set should be tied to the theory.
 The set should be cross-cultural and
applicable.
 Event: transition points between stages.
 Notion of the Family Career: “sequential
linking of family stages over the life
history of the family system.”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Dynamic Concepts
 Transitions:
 Movement from one qualitatively distinct stage
to another.
 They are regulated by process norms.
 Stage duration: time between stages.
 Timing:
 Timing as normative: normative expectations
about the timing of stages.
 Age timing: event that marks the beginning of
an event (e.g., birth, relationship).
 Event and stage sequences
Event sequences vary which has research
and theoretical implications.
Event and stage sequences measure time
(e.g., period between events).
There are three effects associated with a
transition:
 Unique effect of event, regardless of
stage.
 Effect on stage of origin.
 Effect on stage of destination.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Definitions (from Table 10-2):
 “A family stage is a qualitative period in the life
of a family with its own unique group structure.”
 “Transition points are separating points
between family stages.”
 “The institutions of marriage and the family
contains all norms regulating those particular
area of social life.”
 “A position is a location or a point in a social
structure; a family position is a location or point
in a kinship structure.”
 “A norm is a social rule that has the two
dimensions of a social expectation and
behavior.”
 “A role is composed of all the norms attached to
a specific position.”
 “A timing norm is a processual norm for when
an event or stage is to be experienced by an
individual, relationship, or family group. (This is
in general measured by comparing the age and
stage expectations and behavior for the
individual, relationship, and family to establish
whether the unit is ‘on-time’ or ‘off-time.’”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Definitions (cont.):
 “A sequencing norm is a processual norm for
the order in which events and stages are to
be experienced by an individual, relationship,
or family. (This is measured by the
conformity or deviance for a sequence of
events or stages from this modal sequence.)”
 “Other institutions are composed of the
norms regulating specific areas of social life
such as work, religion, education, polity, etc.”
 “The conjunction of one institution’s timing
norms with another institution’s are called
cross-institutional timing norms.”
 “The conjunction of one institution’s
sequencing norms with another institution’s
are called cross-institutional sequencing
norms.”
 “Institutional normative adaptation is when
norms of one institution are brought into
alignment and articulation with the norms of
some other institution(s).”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Axioms (from Table 10-2):
 “The process of family development is modeled
by a semi-Markov model (see Note 26).”
 “When an institution’s timing and sequencing
norms do not articulate with those of other
institutions (cross-institutional), then:
 Individuals experience contradictory
normative demands and, in conforming to
one institution’s set of norms, deviate from
the norms in another institutions (strain).
 Contradictory timing and sequencing norms
for family stages lead to grater deviation
from the normative paths.
 Systematic individual and group deviance
places pressure on an institution to adapt or
align itself with the sequencing and timing
norms of other institutions.”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Propositions (from Table 10-2):
 “Family development is stage dependent
because there exists institutional sequencing
and norms.”
 “Role relationships within the family change
with the family stage.”
 “Family development is duration dependent
because there exists institutional timing norms.”
 “Role relationships develop over time, in part,
as a function of family stages.”
 “The normative demands of any given
institution must be in line with the maturation of
the individual.”
 “The normative demands of any given
institution must be in line with the stage of the
family, otherwise the family is strained.”
 “The sum total of normative demands for all
institutions at any one point in time cannot
overload the capacity of individuals or groups
without creating social deviance (crossnormative strain).”
 “Institutional normative adaptation is preceded by
systematic behavioral deviance.”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson