Ch. 3 Types and Functionality of Families

Question 1

3 most common family types

Answer 1

nuclear
single-parent
blended

Question 2

11 prevalent types of families

Answer 2

Nuclear 
Single-parent 
Blended 
Dual-career 
Child-free 
Special-needs
LGBTQ 
Aging 
Multigenerational 
Grandparent-headed
Military

Question 3

family health

Answer 3

an interactive process associated with positive relationships and outcomes (

Question 4

8 characteristics of healthy families

Answer 4

Commitment to the family and its individuals.
• Appreciation for each other (i.e., a social connection).
• Willingness to spend time together.
• Effective communication patterns.
• High degree of religious/spiritual orientation.
• Ability to deal with crisis in a positive manner (i.e., adaptability).
• Encouragement of individuals. • Clear roles.

Question 5

Three common family organizational forms

Answer 5

(1) symmetrical/complementary, (2) centripetal/centrifugal, and (3) cohesive/adaptable

Question 6

centripetal

Answer 6

forces in family interactions that move toward closeness

Question 7

centrifugal

Answer 7

forces in family interactions that move away

Question 8

ambiguous losses

Answer 8

family losses that are not apparent or openly grieved, as when a person is physically absent but psychologically present

Question 9

conflictual triangles

Answer 9

situations in which two individuals argue over and interact with another family member instead of attending to their relationship.

Question 10

developmental stressors

Answer 10

stressful events that are predict-able and sequential, such as aging

Question 11

family adaptability

Answer 11

the ability of a family to be flexible and change

Question 12

family cohesion

Answer 12

emotional bonding in a family

Question 13

first-order change

Answer 13

the process by which a family that is unable to adjust to new circumstances often repetitiously tries the same solutions or intensifies nonproductive behaviors, thus assuring that the basic organization of the family does not change

Question 14

horizontal stressors

Answer 14

stressful events related to the present, some of which are developmental, such as life cycle transitions, and others of which are unpredictable, such as accidents

Question 15

intergenerational coalitions

Answer 15

members from different gen-erations, such as a mother and daughter, colluding as a team.

Question 16

metachange

Answer 16

a changing of rules, sometimes referred to as a change of change.

Question 17

parallel relationships

Answer 17

relationships in which both complementary and symmetrical exchanges occur as appropriate

Question 18

second-order change

Answer 18

a qualitatively different way of doing something; a basic change in function and/or structure

Question 19

situational stressors

Answer 19

stressful events that are unpredictable

Question 20

spillover

Answer 20

the extent to which participation in one domain, for example, work, affects participation in another domain, for example, the family

Question 21

vertical stressors

Answer 21

events dealing with family patterns, myths, secrets, and legacies. These are stressors that are historical and that families inherit from previous generations

Question 22

symmetrical relationship

Answer 22

a relationship in which each partner tries to gain competence in doing necessary or needed tasks. Members within these units are versatile.

Question 23

complementary relationship

Answer 23

relationship based on family member roles or characteristics that are specifically different from each other (e.g., dominant vs. submissive, logical vs. emotional). If a member fails to fulfill his or her role, such as being a decision maker or a nurturer, other members of the family are adversely affected.

Question 24

4 levels of family adaptability

Answer 24

(1) rigid, (2) structured, (3) flexible, and (4) chaotic.

Question 25

4 levels of family cohesion

Answer 25

(1) disengaged, (2) separated, (3) connected, and (4) enmeshed.