Lecture 12: Family

Question 1

family system theory

Answer 1

assumes that the family is a system in which all parts influence each other
- dynamic system that adapts to changes in the environment

Question 2

traditional nuclear family

Answer 2

consists of a father, mother, and at least one child

Question 3

co-parenting

Answer 3

the ways in which two parents coordinate parenting

Question 4

family life cycle

Answer 4

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

Question 5

social changes taking place

Answer 5

• more single adults
• more delayed marriages
• more unmarried parents
• fewer children within families
• more working mothers
• more divorces
• etc.

Question 6

parents indirect effect

Answer 6

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

Question 7

parental acceptance-responsiveness

Answer 7

refers to the extent to which parents are warm, supporting, and sensitive to their children and offer them affection

Question 8

parental demanding-control

Answer 8

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

Question 9

4 parenting styles

Answer 9

• authoritarian parenting
• authoritative parenting
• permissive parenting
• neglectful parenting

Question 10

authoritarian parenting

Answer 10

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

Question 11

authoritative parenting

Answer 11

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

Question 12

permissive parenting

Answer 12

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

Question 13

neglectful parenting

Answer 13

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

Question 14

SES impact on parenting

Answer 14

parents with lower SES show a more authoritarian parenting style

Question 15

explanations for why differences in SES cause differences in parenting styles

Answer 15

• financial stress
• investment in resources
• cultural values and socialization goals

Question 16

family stress model

Answer 16

focuses on the negative effects of financial stress on the mental health of parents

Question 17

parent effect model

Answer 17

assumes that influences flow from the parents to the child, particularly via the mother
- parents can be held responsible for the behavior of children

Question 18

child effects model

Answer 18

emphasizes the influences that a child exerts on the parent
- e.g. the genetics and personality of a child influence the parenting style

Question 19

interaction model

Answer 19

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

Question 20

transactional model

Answer 20

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

Question 21

sibling rivalry

Answer 21

children show competition, jealousy, and disdain towards each other

Question 22

4 main functions of siblings

Answer 22

• emotional support
• caring
• learning
• social experience

Question 23

gaining autonomy during adolescence

Answer 23

the ability to make independent choices and control life’s tasks without being entirely dependent on someone else

Question 24

child abuse

Answer 24

the mistreatment or harming of a child, whether physical, emotional, or sexual

Question 25

partner violence

Answer 25

the most common form of family violence worldwide
- 1/3 of women are beaten, forced to have sex, or emotionally abused by their partners

Question 26

the abuser in child abuse

Answer 26

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

Question 27

intergenerational transmission of parenting

Answer 27

over generations you pass on the parenting style

Question 28

the abused child

Answer 28

some children are at greater risk than others of being abused
- e.g. children with medical problems or children with difficult temperaments

Question 29

factors that influence parenting styles

Answer 29

• genes
• education of parents
• SES
• environment
• culture

Question 30

helicopter parents

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

positive parenting

Answer 31

based on Skinnerian principles of reinforcement
- can have long-term positive effects on both the child’s behavior and the parents’ adjustment

Question 32

psychological control

Answer 32

using guilt and gratitude to control behavior

Question 33

time-out

Answer 33

child is removed from the environment that offers positive reinforcement
- discussion takes place on negative consequences of time-out

Question 34

resilience

Answer 34

a dynamic development process in which positive adaptation takes place despite traumatic events or serious setbacks

Question 35

traits of resilient children

Answer 35

• 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

Question 36

Seery et al. (2010)

Answer 36

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