Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Chapter 15
The Family
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
The Family as a System
• Family Systems Theory
– A “whole” consisting of interrelated parts
– Each affects and is affected by the others
• Nuclear family: mother, father, children
• Extended family household
• Ecological systems approach
– Family as system within a system
• Family as a changing system
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Figure 15.2
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
More Family Diversity
• More single adults, empty nesters included
• Postponed marriage
• Decline in child-bearing
• More divorce, remarriages
– Reconstituted families
• More single-parent families, child poverty
• More multigenerational (beanpole) families
• Fewer caregivers for aging adults
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Trends
• Decline of marriage and family
– Negative effects
• Divorce, single parent family, poverty
• Purpose of marriage debate
– Meet emotional needs of adults?
– Raise children?
• Postponed marriage improves success rate
• More equality of sexes in family roles
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Infancy: Relationships
• Fathers are capable of sensitive parenting
– A more playful parent role
• Mothers spend more time with them
• Divorce means less fathering
• Fathers warmth and affection promotes
– Social competence, achievement
– Fewer psychological disorders
• Indirect effects: how parents get along
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Parenting Styles
• Two dimensions of parenting
– Acceptance/Responsiveness (AC)
– Demandingness/Control (DC)
• Baumrind’s parenting types
– Authoritarian: AC=high, DC=low
– Authoritative: AC=high, DC=high
– Permissive: AC=low, DC=high
– Neglectful: AC=low, DC=low
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Figure 15.1
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Outcomes of Parenting Styles
• Children of authoritative parents
– Adjusted, responsible, high achievement
• Children of authoritarian parents
– Moody, unhappy, aimless
• Children of permissive parents
– Low: self-control, independence, achievers
• Children of neglectful/uninvolved parents
– Behavior problems, antisocial
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Effects of Social Class
• Lower-class parents
– Stress obedience to authority
– Restrictive and authoritarian
– Use reasoning less
– Show less warmth/affection
• Middle-class parents
– Stress individual initiative, achievement
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Models of Influence on Family
• Parent effects model
– Parental influence and style important
• Child effects model
– Nature of child stressed
• Transactional model
– Reciprocal influences
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Sibling Relationships
• Firstborn stress at new sibling
– Temporary behavior problems
– Sibling rivalry
– Less conflict by adolescence
– Typically ambivalent about sibling
• Overall, mostly positive effects of having a
sibling
– Emotional support, teacher to younger
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
The Adolescent
• Close relationships with parents
• Conflicts mostly over minor issues
• Change in balance of power
• Authoritative parent most effective
• Autonomy, independence achieved
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Establishing Marriage and Family
• 90% of adults choose to marry in the US
– Honeymoon: happy but short
• Problems: Loss of enthusiasm
– Usually exist beforehand
– Negativity common
• New parenthood
– Stressful, joyful
– Coping skills, resources important
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Child Rearing and Launching
• A heavier workload
• More stress
• Marital happiness declines
• Best if both parents share home workload
• The empty nest
– Marital happiness increases after the
children leave home
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Grandparenthood
• Average age: 47
• Grand-parenting styles
•
•
– Remote (29%): distant
– Companionate (55%): frequent enjoyable
visits
– Involved (16%): child care, advise, like
substitute parents
Most find it gratifying
Parent/grandparent relationship important
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Marriage Relationships
• Marriage brings stability
– Happier, healthier, than nonmarrieds
– Lonelier if divorced or widowed
– Better off financially
• Widowhood: by age 65
– 73% men still living with their wives
– 59% women widowed or living alone
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Sibling and Parent-Child Relationships
• Siblings: longest lasting relationship we have
– If close in childhood, also when adult
– Not close in childhood, not close as adults
• Parent-child remain close
– Modified extended family
• Caring for aging parents
– “Middle generation squeeze”
– Filial responsibility common
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Diversity in Family Life
• Cohabitation: on the rise
– Higher divorce rate
• Childless married couples
– Marital satisfaction higher
• Dual-career families: spillover effects
– Both positive and negative
• Gay and lesbian families: more egalitarian
– Children generally well adjusted
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Divorce
• High-risk couples
– married 7 years
– Teen-age marriages, short courtship
– Pregnant before marriage
– Low SES
• Post-divorce crisis
– 1-2 years
– At risk for depression
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Children of Divorce
• Often angry, fearful, depressed, or guilty
• Custodial mother overwhelmed
• Behavior problems
• Peer relationships suffer/change
• Sometimes negative effects are lasting
• 1-2 year adjustment
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Family Violence
• Child abuse: much unreported
– Sexual abuse
• Spouse abuse
– Most common worldwide
• Elder abuse and neglect
– Cognitive impairment a risk factor
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
The Abuser
• Typical child abuser
– Young, single, poor, unemployed mother
• Cycle of abuse
• Often a battered woman
• Low self-esteem
• Unrealistic expectations
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
The Abused
• Target child
– Hyperactive, difficult
– Often disabled or sickly
• Parent feels powerless
• Parent feels threatened
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
The Context of Abuse
• Life changes
• Poverty
• A violent society
• Lack of social support
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 15
Effects of Family Violence
• Physical damage to abused
– Brain damage – shaken baby syndrome
• Child behavior problems common
• Social and cognitive skills deficient
– Academic problems common
• Lack of normal empathy – young children
– Emotional development disturbed
• Problematic for normal development