Family Flashcards
What is a family?
The family is a social system.
“It is a boundary maintained unit composed of interrelated and interdependent parts such that an alteration in one part affects all components of the system. Family systems are typically composed of one or more subsystems, smaller units (e.g., parental, spousal) which serve various functions within the family systems.”
“Exploring Family Theories” 2009
“Because there are so many variations, the question arises as to what is meant by family. One way to define it is to identify the functions that all families fulfill. Anthropologists identify four functions: sexual relations, reproduction, socialization of children, and economic cooperation.”
“Our definition of family, therefore, is a group united by marriage or cohabitation, blood, and/or adoption in order to satisfy intimacy needs and/or bear and socialize children.”
The Quest for Intimacy Textbook Lauer
What is entropy?
The natural tendency of a system to move from order to disorder.
What is necessary to prevent entropy in marriages and families?
Energy- new information or input- is the lifeblood of systems (including family systems). A family must be willing and able to incorporate energy into its system in order to thrive.
What is equilibrium?
There is a tendency for a system (including family systems) to seek a balance between stability and change in the variety of its behaviors and its rules. The natural inclination to maintain the status quo and resist change is usually referred to as homeostasis, which means the system has equilibrium.
What is homeostasis?
There is a tendency for a system (including family systems) to seek a balance between stability and change in the variety of its behaviors and its rules. The natural inclination to maintain the status quo and resist change is usually referred to as homeostasis, which means the system has equilibrium.
What is conflict theory?
Theory that states there is a perpetual class conflict in the society due to unequal distribution of resources.
Focuses on the concept of social inequality in the division of resources and therefore, the conflicts that exist between classes, which trigger social change.
Who is the pioneer? Karl Marx (I think)
What is symbolic interactionism?
This perspective is a major framework of the sociological theory. This perspective relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and build upon in the process of social interaction.
Symbolic interaction theory analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors. Subjective meanings are given primacy because it is believed that people behave based on what they believe and not just on what is objectively true. Thus, society is thought to be socially constructed through human interpretations.
One shocking example of how this theoretical concept plays out within the social construct of race is manifested in the fact that many people, regardless of race, believe that lighter skinned blacks and Latinos are smarter than their darker skinned counterparts. This phenomenon, called colorism, occurs because of the racist stereotype that has been encodes in skin color over centuries. Once ring render, we see the problematic way in which meaning is attached to the symbols “man” and “woman” in the sexist trend of college students routinely rating male professors more highly than female ones.
Critics of this theory claim that symbolic interactionism neglects the macro level of social interpretation. In other words, symbolic interaction it’s may miss the more significant issues of society by focusing too closely on the “trees” rather than the “forest.” This perspective also receives criticism for slighting the influence of social forces and institutions on individual interactions.
Thoughtco.com
What is systems theory?
Systems theory is the interdisciplinary study of systems. A system is a cohesive conglomeration of interrelated and interdependent parts which can be natural or man made. Every system is bound by space and time, influenced by it’s environment, defined by its structure and purpose, and expressed through its functioning. A system may be more than the sum of its parts if it expresses synergy or emergent behavior.
Changing one part of a system may affect other parts or the whole system. It may be possible to predict these changes in patterns of behavior. For systems that learn and adapt, the growth and the degree of adaption depend upon how well the system is engaged with its environment. Some systems support other systems, maintaining the other system to prevent failure. The goals of systems theory are to model a systems dynamics, constraints, conditions, and to elucidate principles (such as purpose, measure, methods, tools) that can be discerned and applies to other systems at every level of nesting, and in a wide range of fields for achieving optimized equifinality.
General systems theory is about developing broadly applicable concepts and principles, as opposed to concepts and principles, specific to one domain and knowledge.
Wikipedia
What is social exchange theory?
Social exchange theory proposes that social behavior is the result of an exchange process. The purpose of this exchange is to maximize benefits and minimize costs. According to this theory, developed by sociologist George Homans, people weigh the potential benefits and risks of social relationships. When the risks outweigh the rewards, people will terminate or abandon that relationship.
Verywellmind.com
According to ____________________, people are motivated to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs in their social relationships. (Homans, 1961)
social exchange theorists
Homans, G. (1961). Social behavior. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace, & World.
What is cohesion?
The sense of emotional bonding that family members have towards each other.
Marriage and Family: The quest for intimacy Lauer
How has the family contributed to a democratic society?
The marriage based family has “contributed enormously to the ultimate purpose of a democratic society by providing the stability and the structure that are essential to sustaining individual liberty over the long run” (Hafen, 1983, p. 473).
Successful Marriages and Families p. 281
