Family Communication : Nurturing and Control in a Changing World

by Beth A. Le Poire

• ISBN13: 9781412904063
• ISBN10: 1412904064
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-11-09
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

Family Communication: Nurturing and Control in a Changing World thoroughly reviews the traditional family communication theories of roles theory, family systems theory, and rules theory in an engaging, non-traditional way. This book uniquely organizes the study of family communication around the concepts of nurturing and control in all family relationships, across all family forms, and their relationships to psychological processes and communicative outcomes in families. Key Features: Looks at Family in All Forms: Traditional nuclear; non-traditional nuclear; bi-nuclear families; cohabitation, single-parent households; step-family and blended configurations; gay families; couples with no children; and extended families are all examined. While not all families fit neatly within any of the traditional definitions, this book articulates a sentiment that most students can resonate to'”that all family forms include some form of nurturing and control. Explores Sociological and Psychological Factors: Various forces such as governmental, religious, media influences, and social science research, cause us to assume most families are traditional and nuclear, using biological, legal, and sociological definitions. In addition to the sociological and psychological bases of developmental processes, the development of parental attachment is fully discussed, showing how nurturing and controlling communication processes encourage socio-emotional competence in children. Explicates New Research Findings: A new family communication theory'” Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory '”explores the ways in which family members attempt to change the undesirable behaviors of a particular family member (e.g., substance abuser, eating disordered individual, gambler, depressed person, violent individual) through their use of nurturing as control. Intended Audience: Perfect for the introductory undergraduate course in Family Communication; as well as courses in Sociology, Social and Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Family Counseling, Family Education, and Home Economics

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xiii
Preface	xv
Introduction: Families, Communication, and Family Communication	1	(28)
Families	4	(7)
Biological Definitions	5	(1)
Legal Definitions	6	(1)
Sociological Definitions	7	(2)
All Family Forms Include Nurturing and Control Functions	9	(2)
Communication	11	(4)
Information, Behavior, and Communication	13	(1)
Source Versus Receiver Versus Message-Centered Orientations	14	(1)
Family Communication	15	(1)
Why Communication Is Central to Families	16	(11)
Both Nurturing and Control Require Communication	16	(1)
Changing Family Forms Require Communication for Coordination	17	(2)
Roles, Systems, and Rules Require Communication	19	(1)
Relationship Development Leading to Coupling Requires Communication	20	(1)
Adding Children Requires Communication	21	(1)
Raising Children Requires Communication	21	(1)
Balancing Intimacy and Autonomy Requires Communication	22	(1)
Managing Conflict Requires Communication	23	(1)
Dealing With Violence Requires Communication	24	(1)
Changing Undesirable Behavior in the Family Requires Communication	25	(1)
The Powerful Role of Communication of Expectations in Families	26	(1)
Summary	27	(1)
Key Terms	28	(1)
Questions for Application	28	(1)
Family Forms in Our Changing Society	29	(24)
The Family Context	29	(4)
Implications for Communication in the Family	32	(1)
Societal Influences on the Family Form	33	(4)
Governmental Regulations	33	(3)
Religious Influences	36	(1)
Social Science Influences	37	(1)
Family Forms	37	(14)
Cohabiting Couples	37	(2)
Couples With No Children	39	(2)
Nuclear Families	41	(1)
Gay Couples (and Gay Couples With Children)	41	(3)
Single-Parent Families	44	(3)
Blended and Binuclear Families	47	(3)
Extended Families	50	(1)
Summary	51	(1)
Key Terms	52	(1)
Questions for Application	52	(1)
Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Communication in the Family	53	(30)
Introduction of Theory	54	(1)
Family Communication Theories	55	(26)
Roles Theory	56	(2)
Family Roles	58	(13)
Family Systems Theory	71	(8)
Rules Theory	79	(2)
Summary	81	(1)
Key Terms	82	(1)
Questions for Application	82	(1)
Forming the New Family Pairing: Two Become One	83	(28)
Social-Psychological Bases of Attraction	85	(8)
Factors Relevant to Relationship Initiation, Communication, and Development	85	(2)
Factors Related to Mate Selection, Communication, and Relationship Development	87	(3)
Communication Theories and Models of Relationship Development	90	(3)
Psychoanalytic Bases of Attraction	93	(8)
Attachment Theory: The Role of Early Parental Attachment on Romantic Relationships	93	(5)
The Influence of Partner's Attachment Style on the Communication of Involvement	98	(3)
Relational Stages of Development	101	(7)
Communication During Casual Dating, Serious Dating, Commitment, and Engagement	101	(3)
Cohabitation	104	(1)
Marriage	105	(3)
Summary	108	(2)
Key Terms	110	(1)
Questions for Application	110	(1)
Communication in the Newly Formed Family: Adding Children	111	(22)
The Effects of Pregnancy on Communication	112	(2)
Addition of a Child and Changes in Communication	114	(12)
Increases in Workload and Changes in Communication	115	(7)
Infant-Caregiver Communication	122	(4)
Communication in Sibling Relationships	126	(1)
Adding Children Through Remarriage: Communication in the Stepparent-Stepchild Relationship	127	(3)
Stepparent-Stepchild Communication	128	(1)
Stepsibling Communication	129	(1)
Summary	130	(1)
Key Terms	131	(1)
Questions for Application	131	(2)
Nurturing and Controlling Communication: Raising Socioemotionally and Intellectually Competent Children	133	(30)
Control: Providing Discipline and Guidance Through Communication	134	(15)
Parenting Styles: Communication Strategies	134	(5)
Parenting Practices: Using Communication to Enact Discipline	139	(10)
Nurturing: Providing Support and Love	149	(10)
Enhancing Physical Development Through Communication	149	(1)
Encouraging Physical Activity Through Communication	150	(1)
Maintaining Physical Health Through Communication	150	(4)
Enhancing Socioemotional Development Through Communication	154	(3)
Encouraging Social Development Through Communication	157	(1)
Encouraging Academic Development Through Communication	158	(1)
Summary	159	(1)
Key Terms	160	(1)
Questions for Application	161	(2)
Nurturing Communication in Marital Relationships: Encouraging Closeness, Stability, and Satisfaction Through Communication	163	(24)
Maintaining Closeness in Marital Relationships	166	(5)
Dialectic Models of Relationship Maintenance: The Autonomy-Closeness Dialectic	167	(3)
Protectedness in Marriage: Communication Privacy Management (CPM) Theory	170	(1)
The Communication of Closeness in the Marital Relationship	171	(13)
Self-Disclosure	172	(2)
Expressions of Affection	174	(1)
Communication of Support	175	(2)
Emotional Regulation and Expression	177	(2)
Sexual Intimacy and Communication	179	(2)
Factors Related to Marital Satisfaction That May Affect Marital Communication	181	(3)
Summary	184	(1)
Key Terms	185	(1)
Questions for Application	185	(2)
Control in Marital Relationships and the Family: Conflict, Constructive and Destructive Conflict, and Violence	187	(30)
The Nature of Conflict	189	(3)
Models of Conflict	192	(5)
Explanatory Model of Interpersonal Conflict	192	(2)
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Model	194	(2)
Social-Structural Model of Demand-Withdraw	196	(1)
Conflict Styles	197	(3)
Avoiders	198	(1)
Volatiles	198	(1)
Validators	199	(1)
Conflict Strategies (Interpersonal Influence)	200	(3)
Instrumental Goals	200	(1)
Relationship Goals	201	(1)
Identity Goals	201	(1)
Persuasive Outcomes and Reciprocity of Conflict Strategies	202	(1)
The Nature of Violence	203	(10)
Profile of the Battered	207	(2)
Profile of the Batterer	209	(1)
Models of Violence in the Family	210	(3)
Summary	213	(2)
Key Terms	215	(1)
Questions for Application	215	(2)
Nurturing and Controlling Communication Surrounding Undesirable Behavior in the Family	217	(24)
Undesirable Behavior in the Family	218	(10)
Substance Abuse and Communication in the Family	219	(4)
Children With Eating Disorders and Communication in the Family	223	(2)
Depression and Communication in the Family	225	(3)
The Potential Role of Communication and Problematic Behavior in Families	228	(6)
Family Systems Theory	228	(1)
Coercion Theory	229	(1)
Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory	230	(1)
Paradoxes	231	(1)
Nurturing and Control	231	(1)
Paradoxical Outcomes in Learning Theory Terms	232	(2)
Application of INC Theory to Undesirable Behavior in the Family	234	(3)
Substance Abusers	234	(2)
Children With Eating Disorders	236	(1)
Depression	237	(1)
Summary	237	(1)
Key Terms	238	(1)
Questions for Application	239	(2)
Family Communication: Providing Nurturing and Control in a Changing World	241	(20)
What We Have Learned	241	(2)
The Current Configuration of Families: Nurturing and Controlling Communication	243	(4)
Improving Family Communication	247	(11)
How You Think Is What you Feel: Or Perception Is Reality	250	(1)
The Role of Perceptions in the Successful Development of the Family	250	(2)
The Role of Perceptions in Parent-Child Communication	252	(2)
The Role of Perceptions in Destructive Communication Patterns	254	(1)
How You Communicate Is What You Get: Or the Golden Rule of Communication	255	(3)
Summary	258	(2)
Key Terms	260	(1)
Questions for Application	260	(1)
Glossary	261	(8)
References	269	(48)
Index	317	(28)
About the Author	345