SOC 120
Des Moines Area Community College
Course Information – EFFECTIVE Aug. 2006
Acronym/Number SOC 120
Title
Historical Ref. SOCY 103
Marriage and Family
Credit breakout 3
(credit
3
lecture
0
lab
0
practicum
0
work experience)
PREREQUISITE(S):
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course analyzes the sociological, physical, psychological, legal and economic aspects of the
American family. Included are investigations of courtship and marriage relationships,
preparation for marriage, family, parenthood, interpersonal relationships, and marital adjustment.
COURSE COMPETENCIES:
During this course, the student will be expected to:
1.
Apply relevant concepts, the (social) psychological perspective, and the sociological
imagination to intimate relationships, the family, and related problems.
1.1
Define (social) psychological perspective and the sociological imagination.
1.2
Explain intimate relationships and the family in terms of social psychological
and sociological theories, including symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and
conflict theory.
1.3
Analyze the myths that influence ideas and ideals of families and relationships.
1.4
Illustrate specific aspects of intimate relationships and families from a variety of
sources, including experience.
1.5
Analyze one's own family relationships using sociological concepts.
2.
Explain the choices in Marriage and the Family
2.1
Describe some of the basic choices most individuals make regarding relationships and lifestyles.
2.2
Discuss the characteristics of marriage in the United States.
2.3
Distinguish between the various types of marriage and family systems.
2.4
Discuss the definition of family and how the legal definition of family is
changing.
2.5
Discuss the different approaches (perspectives) and major functions of the
family.
2.6
Discuss the family life cycle perspective and the major transitions that may occur
over a person's lifespan.
2.7
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance and weaknesses of research in
marriage and the family.
SOC 120
3.
Identify Love Relationships
3.1
Identify the elements of love.
3.2
Describe the social, psychological, physical, and cognitive conditions of love.
3.3
Discuss the triangular theory of love.
3.4
Distinguish between the different types of love.
3.5
Identify some similarities and basic differences between love and sex.
3.6
Explain that self-love (self-respect) is prerequisite to a loving relationship.
3.7
Discuss misconceptions of love.
3.8
Describe Reiss's wheel theory of love.
3.9
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of friendship love in intimate
relationships and its relationship to liking.
4.
Analyze Gender Roles
4.1
Distinguish among the terms sex, gender, gender identity and gender role.
4.2
Describe the roles that chromosomes and hormones play in determining biological sex.
4.3
Explain the origins of traditional gender roles in terms of patriarchy.
4.4
Compare theories of gender role acquisition.
4.5
Describe how various agents of socialization influence gender role behavior,
attitudes and self-concept, including codependency.
4.6
Outline the positive and negative consequences of male and female role socialization.
4.7
Describe masculine-feminine stereotypes and the problems that such stereotypes
create.
4.8
Discuss gender role influences in interpersonal relationships between men and
women.
4.9
Discuss gender roles in the family, including the shift away from patriarchal
roles toward equalitarian roles.
5.
Investigate Sexual Values and Sexual Behaviors in Relationships
5.1
Describe how individuals may explore and clarify their own sexual values.
5.2
Distinguish between a liberal and a conservative view of sexuality.
5.3
Explain gender and racial differences in sexual behavior.
5.4
Discuss various forms of sexual expression in a relationship.
5.5
Describe the characteristics of STD's.
5.6
Describe some ways that couples can improve sexual communication in their
relationship.
5.7
Discuss the sexual response cycle.
5.8
Discuss several prerequisites to sexual fulfillment.
5.9
Discuss the causes and treatment of male and female sexual dysfunctions.
6.
Review Lifestyle Alternatives
6.1
Note the differences between traditional and egalitarian marriages.
6.2
Identify reasons why people get married, including both healthy and unhealthy
ones.
SOC 120
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.10
6.11
6.12
Describe categories of singles and their relative percentages in our population.
Discuss the reasons why there has been a dramatic increase in the percentage of
never married men and women.
Compare single with marrieds in relation to social life.
Sort out myths and realities of singles.
Outline the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifestyle alternatives.
Define living together and the major categories.
Identify the characteristics of cohabitants.
Discuss how cohabitants go about deciding to live together.
Discuss the types of problems cohabitants report.
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of living together.
7.
Analyze Dating and Mate Selection
7.1
Describe the contemporary functions of dating.
7.2
Discuss the theories of mate selection.
7.3
Outline the steps in breaking up with a partner.
7.4
Discuss the issues to consider in timing your commitment to marriage.
7.5
Discuss the implications of the engagement period.
7.6
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of writing a premarital agreement.
7.7
Describe trends in dating and mate selection
7.8
Discuss interracial and interfaith marriages in the United States.
7.9
Discuss the problem of finding and meeting dates.
7.10
Demonstrate an understanding of some of the major problems in dating.
8.
Differentiate between types of Marriage Relationships
8.1
Discuss how weddings and honeymoons serve as rites of passage.
8.2
Describe the changes people experience when they get married.
8.3
Discuss myths of marriage.
8.4
Discuss interreligious, interracial, cross-cultural, and age-discrepant marriages.
8.5
Describe the different types of marital relationships classified by Cuber and
Haroff.
8.6
List characteristics of "very happy" marriage relationships.
8.7
Describe various ways that researchers measure marital happiness.
8.8
Discuss marriage as a civil and legal contract marriage.
8.9
Discuss the need to prepare for marriage and the roles of education, premarital
assessment, and counseling.
9.
Investigate Two Income Relationships and Power
9.1
Discuss the relationships of the family to the economic system and to work.
9.2
Identify the various meanings of money.
9.3
Describe how money is used as power in relationships.
9.4
Discuss why wives are more likely to have jobs.
9.5
Demonstrate an understanding of the basic facts about money and the family.
9.6
Summarize the basic reasons why people go in debt.
9.7
Describe the efficient and workable money management system.
9.8
Describe the consequences of having two incomes in marriage.
SOC 120
9.9
9.10
Discuss the trends of married women in the labor force.
Describe reasons for budgeting.
10.
Analyze power in relationships and in the family.
10.1
Define power.
10.2
Outline the different units of family power.
10.3
Explain why people want power.
10.4
Discuss at least two theories of family power.
10.5
Discuss decision-making power in the family.
10.6
Discuss the outcome and effects of different types of power tactics on individuals and on marital satisfaction.
10.7
Explain ways to move away from power dominance towards equal power in
families.
11.
Explain Communication and Conflict Resolution in Relationships
11.1
Discuss the elements of effective communication.
11.2
Distinguish between content and process in communication.
11.3
Identify the differences between women and men in their communication
patterns.
11.4
Describe theories of marital communication.
11.5
Identify source of conflict in marriage.
11.6
Compare styles of conflict.
11.7
Outline the stages of resolving an interpersonal conflict.
11.8
Compare productive and nonproductive communication.
11.9
Compare the various styles of marriage therapy (cognitive, transactional
analysis, and Adlerian) between directive and nondirective therapy.
11.10 Identify the major barriers to communication.
11.11 Identify the extent, causes, and consequences of abuse in dating, cohabitation,
and marital relationships.
11.12 Suggest several reasons why some men and women stay in abusive relationships.
11.13 Discuss the extent, causes, and the prevention of child abuse.
12.
Review Planning Children, Having Children, and Rearing Children
12.1
Describe the social influences that encourage people to have children.
12.2
Identify the benefits of family planning.
12.3
Identify the reasons people give for deciding to have children.
12.4
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of deciding to remain childfree.
12.5
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having one or two children.
12.6
Describe each of the methods of contraception and their relative advantages and
disadvantages.
12.7
Discuss how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
12.8
Identify some of the causes of infertility.
12.9
Discuss AID, AIH, artificial insemination via a surrogate mother, in-vitro
fertilization, ovum transfer, and gamete intrafallopian transfer.
12.10 Describe mechanisms for adopting a child.
12.11 Describe the Lamaze, Dick-Read, Bradley, and LeBoyer methods of childbirth.
SOC 120
12.12
12.13
12.14
12.15
12.16
12.17
Make a comparison of the adjustment of women and men to the birth of a child.
Discuss the impact of having children on marital happiness and marital stability.
Discuss parenting styles.
Identify myths and realities of child rearing.
Discuss theoretical approaches to child rearing.
Identify techniques that may facilitate effective communication between parents
and teenagers.
13.
Explain Family Crises and Transitions: Addiction, Codependency, Disability, Divorce,
Widowhood, Remarriage, and Step-families
13.1
Define family crisis, stressor, addiction, codependency.
13.2
Explain the course of a family crisis: stressors, stages, and an attitude of creative
optimism.
13.3
Explain the problem of, and possible solution to, addiction and codependency.
13.4
Describe the problem of, and possible solution to, illness and disability in the
family.
13.5
Identify societal and individual factors that contribute to divorce.
13.6
Trace the stages that characterize the movement of couples toward divorce.
13.7
Describe the characteristics of people who tend to get divorced and who tend to
stay married.
13.8
Discuss the emotional, financial, and other consequences of divorce.
13.9
Outline those factors which help individuals to adjust to a divorce.
13.10 Review the various studies of the effects of divorce on children.
13.11 Identify alternatives to divorce.
13.12 Identify the issues involved in taking care of widowed or elderly parents.
13.13 Identify some of the issues with which individuals who remarry are confronted.
13.14 Describe various aspects of remarriage.
13.15 Compare first and second marriages in terms of level of happiness.
13.16 Define stepfamilies or reconstituted families and note the different types of
stepfamilies.
13.17 Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of stepfamilies.
14.
Discuss the trends and future of the family.
14.1
Discuss how people have more choices in relation to family life and relationships.
14.2
Review how the options available and the choices made are influenced by our
changing to a postindustrial society.
14.3
Discuss how the choices people make influence their relationships, their
families, their community, and society.
14.4
Describe how families are becoming a less rigid and more flexible institution
with new choices and problems.
SOC 120
COMPETENCIES REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
DATE: -_______________________________
FACULTY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Preparation
Effective date:
by:
July 19, 1993
Rudy Harris/R. Lee McNair
Campus:
extension:
Revision(s):
A B C U
6521/6304
N
W
OC