The Family on the Threshold of the 21st Century: Trends and Implications

by Dreman, Solly

• ISBN13: 9780805822175
• ISBN10: 0805822178
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-07-01
• Publisher: Lawrence Erlbau

Summary

Is there life for the family in the 21st century? Pessimists view the traditional two-parent nuclear family as a relic of the past, attributing their gloomy outlook to increased demands from the workplace, rampant technological advancement, and the pursuit of personal achievement at the expense of interpersonal needs and values. Optimists, on the other hand, claim that increasing alienation and emphasis on the occupational sphere necessitate a sense of family, community, and belonging as a haven from work-related stress. This volume addresses these and related issues such as the interplay of personal versus interpersonal factors in family development, the role of the extended family, and the interface between work, community and family. The contents of this book--scholarly contributions from a unique interdisciplinary rostrum of behavioral scientists in such diverse fields as psychology, sociology, anthropology, social work, industrial management, and demography--represent the latest developments in research, theory, and practice in family studies. The reader is presented with theoretical formulations, empirical findings, and applied interventions regarding family life in different parts of the world. A systems perspective is adopted as the family is examined at its interface with individuals, community, society, and culture, with the interdependence of these different levels emphasized. In addition, an attempt is made to integrate the work of theoreticians, researchers, and practitioners in understanding the evolving family. Dreman provides a survey of family life in the international arena and finds a surprising consensus between the different disciplinary perspectives and the respective geographical arenas. He discusses life-span issues in relation to all levels of family life including the impact of increased longevity and decreased fertility in relation to topics such as individual development, parent-child and couple relationships, the workplace, and the community. This book also highlights the interplay of biological and interpersonal dynamics as in the case of spousal depression.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xii
Introduction	p. 1
On the Threshold of a New Era: An Overview	p. 3
References	p. 12
Individual and Developmental Influences and Family Life	p. 15
Working with Couples During Stressful Transitions	p. 17
References	p. 45
Depression in a Marital Context	p. 49
References	p. 68
Changing Roles and Structures in the Family	p. 71
Family Relationships and Life Course Strategies for the 21st Century	p. 73
References	p. 84
Marital Integration in the Dual Career Family	p. 87
References	p. 99
The Extended Family and Alternate Family Forms	p. 101
The False Assumptions of Traditional Values	p. 103
References	p. 112
Family, Networks, and Survival on the Threshold of the 21st Century in Urban Mexico	p. 113
References	p. 124
Culture, Society, and the Family	p. 127
Violence-Free Families	p. 129
References	p. 144
Developing the New Links Workplace: The Future of Family, Work, and Community Relationships	p. 147
References	p. 164
The Triple Revolution: Social Sources of Family Change	p. 167
References	p. 179
The Situation of Families in Western Europe: A Sociological Perspective	p. 181
References	p. 199
Family Change, Fathers, and Children in Western Europe: A Demographic and Psychosocial Perspective	p. 201
References	p. 224
Situational Influences and Family Life	p. 227
Parental Attitudes of Soviets in Israel to the Immigration Process and Their Impact on Parental Stress and Tension	p. 229
References	p. 244
Immigration as a Challenge: Implications for Individuals and Families	p. 245
References	p. 255
Family Assesment in a Systems Context	p. 257
Family Stress and Coping: A Multisystem Perspective	p. 259
References	p. 279
Conclusions	p. 281
Is the Family Viable? Some Thoughts and Implications for the Third Millennium	p. 283
References	p. 293
Author Index	p. 295
Subject Index	p. 303
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