Choices in Relationships:
An Introduction
Outlined from :
David Knox & Caroline Schacht (2010).
Choices in Relationships -An Introduction to
Marriage and the Family. Chapter 1
The World Health Organization:
health as a state of complete physical, mental,
and social well-being
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Social relationships
• important element in health (individual and
national)
• critical to our health, happiness, and sense of
well-being
Choices in Relationships
Life is the sum of all of your
choices.
Albert Camus, French author and
philosopher
Not To Decide Is To Decide
Some Choices Require Correction
Choices Involve Trade-Offs
Choices Include Selecting a Positive or Negative
View
Choices Involve Different Decision-Making Styles
Choices Produce Ambivalence
Most Choices Are Revocable; Some Are Not
Choices of Generation Y
Choices Are Influenced by the Stage in the
Family Life Cycle
Making Wise Choices is Facilitated by Learning
Decision-Making Skills
Global, Structural/Cultural, and Media Inflences
on Choices
Globalization
Social Structure
-institutions
-social groups
-statuses
-roles
Culture
Two central elements of culture:
-beliefs
-values
Media
Other Influences on Relationship Choices
-Family of origin
-Unconscious motivations
-Habits
-Personality
-Relationships and life experiences
Elements of Marriage (in Western World)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Legal Contract
Emotional Relationship
Sexual Monogamy
Legal Responsibility for Children
Announcement/Ceremony
Alternative Types Of Marriage
Polygamy: a form of marriage involving more
than two spouses
Three forms of polygamy: polygyny, polyandry,
and pantagamy.
Types of Families
Family of Origin/ Family of orientation
Family of Procreation
Nuclear Family
Traditional, Modern, and Postmodern Family
Binuclear Family
Extended Family
Theoretical Frameworks for Viewing
Marriage and the Family
Social Exchange Framework
- Utilitarianism
Family Life Course Development Framework
- family life cycle
Structural-Functional Framework
- functionalism
Conflict Framework
Symbolic Interaction Framework
• Definition of the Situation
• Looking-Glass Self
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Family Systems Framework
Social Organization Framework
1. Societies
2. Communities
3. Associations
Feminist Framework
Human Ecological Framework
- Ecosystem
Transpersonal Psychology Framework
Game Framework
1. Goals
2. Expectations
3. Roles
4. Rules
5. Values
6. Language
7. Strategies
8. Rituals
9. Artifacts
10. Myths
Conducting and Evaluating Research
in Marriage and the Family
The Research Process:
1. Identify the topic
2. Review litterature
3. Develop hypotheses
4. Method of data collection
5. Get approval (ethics)
6. Collect and analyse data
7. Publish results
Note!
• Sample
• Control Groups
• Age and Cohort Effect
• Terminology
• Researcher bias
- Reflexivity
• Time