Lecture 12: Family Flashcards
family system theory
assumes that the family is a system in which all parts influence each other
- dynamic system that adapts to changes in the environment
traditional nuclear family
consists of a father, mother, and at least one child
co-parenting
the ways in which two parents coordinate parenting
family life cycle
a sequence of changes in family composition, roles, relationships, and developmental tasks
- not only is the family a system that changes, but the world it lives in changes too
social changes taking place
- more single adults
- more delayed marriages
- more unmarried parents
- fewer children within families
- more working mothers
- more divorces
- etc.
parents indirect effect
parents have an indirect effect on their children by influencing their partner’s behavior
- direct effect occurs when the mother or father directly influences the baby’s development
- indirect effect occurs when the relationship between 2 family members is influenced by a third family member
parental acceptance-responsiveness
refers to the extent to which parents are warm, supporting, and sensitive to their children and offer them affection
parental demanding-control
refers to how much control the parent wants to have over the choices the child makes
- monitor the child strongly and have many strict rules
4 parenting styles
- authoritarian parenting
- authoritative parenting
- permissive parenting
- neglectful parenting
authoritarian parenting
a restrictive parenting style, where parents are demanding and controlling, not very accepting and responsive
- many rules, demand a lot of obedience, and rely on power relations
authoritative parenting
these parents are more flexible, have reasonable demands but are also controlling, but are also sensitive towards their children
- clear consistent rules, but also explain the rules and involve their children
- show respect for their child
permissive parenting
high degree of acceptance and responsiveness, and few demands and control
- very focused on their children, have few rules and make few demands
- encourage children to express their feelings and impulses
neglectful parenting
there is little acceptance-responsiveness and little demanding-control
- do not really care for their children and can be hostile
- become overwhelmed by their own problems that they don’t have energy to show love
- creates the worst developmental outcomes for children
SES impact on parenting
parents with lower SES show a more authoritarian parenting style
explanations for why differences in SES cause differences in parenting styles
- financial stress
- investment in resources
- cultural values and socialization goals
family stress model
focuses on the negative effects of financial stress on the mental health of parents
parent effect model
assumes that influences flow from the parents to the child, particularly via the mother
- parents can be held responsible for the behavior of children
child effects model
emphasizes the influences that a child exerts on the parent
- e.g. the genetics and personality of a child influence the parenting style
interaction model
the characteristics of the parents and of the child combined influence the child’s development
- aggressive behavior is developed when a child has a genetic predisposition to it, and when it is brought up in the wrong environment
transactional model
the effects of parents and children influence each other, causing both to change in response
- child problems can develop when the relationship between parents and child is poor
sibling rivalry
children show competition, jealousy, and disdain towards each other
4 main functions of siblings
- emotional support
- caring
- learning
- social experience
gaining autonomy during adolescence
the ability to make independent choices and control life’s tasks without being entirely dependent on someone else
child abuse
the mistreatment or harming of a child, whether physical, emotional, or sexual
partner violence
the most common form of family violence worldwide
- 1/3 of women are beaten, forced to have sex, or emotionally abused by their partners
the abuser in child abuse
often is a young mother who has several children, lives in poverty, has no job, and no partner
- very often have been abused themselves
- intergenerational transmission of parenting
intergenerational transmission of parenting
over generations you pass on the parenting style
the abused child
some children are at greater risk than others of being abused
- e.g. children with medical problems or children with difficult temperaments
factors that influence parenting styles
- genes
- education of parents
- SES
- environment
- culture
helicopter parents
exert a degree of control and support that is developmentally inappropriate for adolescents and young adults, tend to be overly involved
- has negative effects on the child such as negative self-image, higher narcissism, more frequent use of medication for anxiety and depression, etc.
positive parenting
based on Skinnerian principles of reinforcement
- can have long-term positive effects on both the child’s behavior and the parents’ adjustment
psychological control
using guilt and gratitude to control behavior
time-out
child is removed from the environment that offers positive reinforcement
- discussion takes place on negative consequences of time-out
resilience
a dynamic development process in which positive adaptation takes place despite traumatic events or serious setbacks
traits of resilient children
- talented/creative outlets
- good social and intellectual skills
- have at least one close and caring relationship
- have an optimistic worldview and self-efficacy
- have a belief/sense of meaning in life
- have good genes
Seery et al. (2010)
found that people with a history of some adversity in life reported better mental health than both people with a large history of adversity and people with no history of adversity
- some adversity in life is beneficial for developing resilience
