Personal Life

Question 1

What are the 2 weaknesses of structural theories?

Answer 1

1. Assume that the nuclear family is the dominant family type and ignore increased diversity of families today
2. They are structural theories that assume that people have no agency

Question 2

What does the personal life perspective argue about peoples’ ability to make decisions?

Answer 2

People have some choice in creating family relationships and that we must focus on the meanings its members give to relationships rather than their functions.

Question 3

What is the personal life perspective influenced by?

Answer 3

Interactionist ideas

Question 4

Other personal relationships that this perspective focuses on

Answer 4

Relationships with friends that are like a brother/sister to you

Relationships with dead relatives who continue to influence living family members

Question 5

Tipper’s study of pets in families

Answer 5

In her study of children’s views of the family, children frequently saw pets as part of the family

Question 6

What did Smart find about the issue of blood and genes?

Answer 6

Raised a range of emotions eg some parents emphasise the importance of social relationships over genetic ones in raising children

Question 7

Advantage

Answer 7

Helps to understand how people construct/define relationships as family

Question 8

Criticism

Answer 8

Too broad in their view of what constitutes a family which ignores what is special about relationships based on blood or marriage