Download Chapter 3, Exploring the Family

Theoretical Perspectives on
The Family
Science


Defined as “a logical system that bases
knowledge on…systematic observation”
and on empirical evidence--facts we can
verify with our senses.
Purpose: overcome researchers’ biases
Problems with PeerReview/Blind Process

Means different things at different journals
Slow
Expensive
Subjective
Biased

How can peer review be improved?




Dominant Theoretical
Perspectives









The Family Ecology Perspective
The Family Life Course Development
Perspective
The Structure-Functional Perspective
The Interaction-Constructionist Perspective
Exchange Theory
Family Systems Theory
Conflict and Feminist Theory
The Biosocial Perspective
Attachment Theory
Family Ecology Perspective on
the Family


Rooted in Lewin’s field theory B = ƒ(P, E)
Basic premise is the principle of
adaptation
The Family Ecology
Perspective
Family Ecology Perspective
Theme
The ecological context of the family affects
family life and children’s outcomes.
Key
Concepts
Natural physical-biological environment;
Human-built environment; Social-cultural
environment
Current
Research
Family policy; Neighborhood effects
Family Life Course
Development Framework
Duvall
1) married couples (without children)
2) childbearing families (oldest child, birth-30 months)
3) families with preschool children (oldest child, 2.5-6
years)
4) families with school children (oldest child, 6-13
years)
5) families with teenagers (oldest child 13-20 years)
6) families as launching centres (first child gone to
last child leaving home)
7) middle age parents (empty nest to retirement)
8) aging family members (retirement to death of both
spouses)
Family Life Course
Development Framework
Theme
Families experience predictable changes
over time.
Family life cycle; Developmental tasks;
Key Concepts
“On-time” transitions; Role sequencing
Current
Research
Transition to adulthood; Marriage and
parenthood; Pathways to family formation
Structure-Functional
Perspective on the Family


Emphasizes the interdependency of the
many parts of a society
Function = purpose or contribution that a
social unit or social institution fulfills to
maintain society
Structure-Functional
Perspective
Theme
The family performs essential functions for
society.
Key
Concepts
Social institution; Family structure; Family
functions; Functional alternatives
Current
Research
Cross-cultural and historical comparisons;
Analysis of emerging family structures;
Critique of contemporary family
Exchange Theory Perspective
on the Family


Rooted in Greek hedonism
Rests on the belief that human beings try
to make choices; maximize rewards,
minimize costs
Exchange Theory: Examples



Willard Waller: uses the principle of least
interest to explain the selection of intimate
partners.
George Homans (1958): people seek
relationships that will be rewarding
Price and McKenry (1988): outlined a
number of attractions to marriage, barriers
to divorce, and alternatives to marriage.
Exchange Theory Perspective
Theme
The resources that individuals bring to a
relationship or family affect formation,
continuation, nature of a relationship, and
power dynamics of a relationship.
Key
Concepts
Resources; Rewards and costs; Family
power; Social networks; Social support
Current
Research
Family power; Entry and exit from marriage;
Family violence; Network-derived social
support
Family Systems Theory



Family as a holistic unit, is a system,
Husband-wife relationship is a subsystem
Each family member’s behaviour affects
every other member.
Family Systems Theory
Theme
The family as a whole is more than the
sum of its parts.
Key Concepts
System; Equilibrium; Boundaries; Family
therapy
Current
Research
Family efficacy and crisis management;
Family boundaries
Conflict Perspective on the
Family
Based on the following assumptions:
1) social relationships are rife with conflicting interest;
thus
2) social systems systematically generate conflict which
3) is an inevitable and pervasive feature of all social
systems and
4) tends to be manifested in the opposition of interests
that
5) occurs over the distribution of scarce resources which
6) results in change in social systems
Conflict and Feminist
Perspective on the Family
Gender is central to the analysis of
Theme family; male dominance in family and
society is oppressive of women.
Key
Male dominance; Power and
Concepts inequality; Sex/gender systems
Work and family; Domestic violence;
Current
Family power; Advocacy of women’s
Research
issues
Feminist Perspective on the
Family

5 basic premises:
 social construction of gender
 committed to general equality and
social change
 question the family
 put their beliefs into action
 emphasizes the centrality of women’s
lives and experiences
Biosocial Perspective on the
Family


Roots in Charles Darwin’s ideas about
natural selection and survival of the
fittest
Family is an evolutionary adaptation to
the problem of the survival of human
infants and children
Biosocial Perspective on the
Family
Theme
Evolution has put in place certain biological
endowments that shape and limit family
choices.
Key
Concepts
Evolutionary heritage; Genes; Inclusive
fitness
Current
Research
Correlations between biological markers and
family behavior; Evolutionary explanations for
gender differences and sexuality
Attachment Theory Perspective
on the Family


Many different views
Classification:
 secure attachment,
 anxious-ambivalent attachment
 anxious-avoidant attachment
Attachment Theory
Perspective on the Family
Theme
Attachment style is established at a young
age, and continues to influence one’s adult
relationships
Key
Concepts
Secure, insecure/anxious, and avoidant
attachment styles
Current
Research
Impact of personality upon relationship
choices; Impact of parenting upon attachment