The Family

by Eshleman, J. Ross; Bulcroft, Richard A.

• ISBN13: 9780205454501
• ISBN10: 020545450X
• Edition: 11th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Key Topic: This popular sociology of family bookintroduces key theoretical perspectives, reflects the most current data and research, and uses cross-cultural comparisons to present the most comprehensive coverage of the family. Key Benefit: This book uses a variety of theoretical frameworks (structural/functionalist, conflict, interactionist, exchange, developmental, and feminist) to describe and analyze society's contemporary families and diverse, nontraditional lifestyles.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
PART I Understanding Marriages and Families across Time and Place	1	(139)
Defining the Family: Institutional and Disciplinary Concerns	1	(38)
Family as a Social Institution	6	(4)
Families as Systems and Groups	10	(4)
Primary versus Secondary Groups	13	(1)
Characteristics of Marriage, Family, and Kinship Systems	14	(20)
Ideal Types	15	(1)
Boundaries of Marriage	16	(8)
Boundaries of the Family	24	(5)
Boundaries of Kinship	29	(5)
Summary	34	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	35	(1)
Discussion Questions	36	(1)
Further Readings	37	(2)
U.S. Families: Historical Origins, Changes, and Contemporary Issues	39	(50)
Historical Origins of the Modern Family in Europe and America	43	(6)
Postfeudal Family Life	45	(1)
Medieval Family Life	45	(1)
Modernity and the Family	46	(3)
Characteristics of Contemporary U.S. Families	49	(5)
Numbers of Families and Households	49	(2)
Sizes of Families and Households	51	(1)
Marital Status	51	(1)
Family Income	52	(2)
Contemporary U.S. Families and Other Social Institutions	54	(8)
Mass Media and the Family	55	(2)
Religion and the Family	57	(2)
Politics and the Family	59	(2)
Education and the Family	61	(1)
Economy and the Family	61	(1)
Issues and Changes in Contemporary U.S. Families	62	(21)
Meaning of Marriage and the Family	65	(2)
Family Organization	67	(2)
Family Functions	69	(1)
Marital-and Gender-Role Differentiation	70	(4)
Partner Selection	74	(2)
Love	76	(1)
Sexual Relationships	77	(1)
Family Size and Family Planning	78	(2)
Aged Family Members	80	(1)
Violence and Abuse among Intimates	81	(1)
Family Permanence	81	(2)
Other Contemporary Issues	83	(1)
Summary	83	(2)
Key Terms and Topics	85	(1)
Discussion Questions	85	(1)
Further Readings	86	(3)
Marriage and the Family: Disciplinary and Theoretical Approaches	89	(51)
Sociology of the Family	93	(2)
Uses of Family Sociology	94	(1)
Social Science Approach to the Family	95	(1)
Relationship between Research and Theory: The Scientific Process	96	(6)
Assumptions	99	(1)
Concepts and Variables	100	(1)
Propositions and Hypotheses	101	(1)
Research Methods and Statistical Concepts	102	(9)
Quantitative Research Designs	103	(8)
Theories and Frames of Reference	111	(19)
Structural-Functional Frame of Reference	112	(4)
Social Conflict Frame of Reference	116	(3)
Symbolic Interaction Frame of Reference	119	(5)
Social Exchange Frame of Reference	124	(3)
Family Systems Frame of Reference	127	(2)
Developmental Frame of Reference	129	(1)
Alternative Perspectives	130	(4)
Postmodernism	131	(1)
Feminism	132	(2)
Appraisal and Expansion of Contemporary Family Theory	134	(1)
Summary	135	(2)
Key Terms and Topics	137	(1)
Discussion Questions	138	(1)
Further Readings	139	(1)
PART II Sociocultural Contexts and the Diversity of Families in the United States	140	(88)
Social-Class Variations in U.S. Families	141	(36)
Meanings of Social Class	142	(1)
Determination of Social Class	143	(1)
Consequences of Social Class to Families	144	(1)
Social Categories of Families	145	(17)
Wealthy Families	145	(2)
Middle-Class Families	147	(3)
Blue-Collar Families	150	(2)
Families Living in Poverty	152	(10)
Single Parents and Poverty	162	(7)
Mothers as Single Parents	165	(2)
Fathers as Single Parents	167	(1)
Overview of Single Parenthood	168	(1)
Parent-Absent Families	169	(1)
Social Mobility: Changing Family Lifestyles	169	(3)
Likelihood of Vertical Social Mobility	169	(1)
Extent of Vertical Social Mobility	170	(1)
Consequences of Social Mobility	171	(1)
Summary	172	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	173	(1)
Discussion Questions	173	(1)
Further Readings	174	(3)
African American Families	177	(26)
Significant Social Transitions of African Americans	179	(12)
From Africa to the United States	180	(1)
From Slavery to Emancipation	181	(1)
From Rural and Southern Areas to Urban and Northern Areas	182	(1)
From Negative to Positive Social Status	183	(7)
From Negative to Positive Self-Image	190	(1)
Patterns of African American Family Life	191	(8)
Matricentric Female-Headed Family Pattern	192	(3)
Middle-Class, Two-Parent Family Pattern	195	(3)
Patriarchal Affluent Family Pattern	198	(1)
Summary	199	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	200	(1)
Discussion Questions	200	(1)
Further Readings	200	(3)
Hispanic American, Asian American, and Native American Families	203	(25)
Hispanic American Family System	205	(9)
Social Status Characteristics	205	(3)
Marital Status	208	(1)
Mexican American Families	209	(5)
Asian American Family System	214	(6)
Social Status Characteristics	215	(1)
Marital/Family Patterns	216	(4)
Native American Family System	220	(5)
Social Status Characteristics	221	(1)
The Native American Experience	222	(2)
Marital/Family Patterns	224	(1)
Summary	225	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	226	(1)
Discussion Questions	226	(1)
Further Readings	227	(1)
PART III Relationship Formation Processes and Nonmarital Relationships	228	(112)
Partnering and Marriage Formation	229	(44)
Marriage Trends and Characteristics	231	(10)
Structural Constraints on Marriage Rates	238	(2)
Variations in Marriage Rates	240	(1)
Purposes and Consequences of Marriage	241	(6)
Why Marry?	241	(2)
Marital Status and Well-Being	243	(4)
Systems of Partner Selection and Choice	247	(8)
Patterns of Selection and Choice	249	(2)
Intermarriage	251	(4)
Dimensions and Consequences of Homogamy and Intermarriage	255	(13)
Age at Marriage	255	(2)
Social Status	257	(3)
Religion and Intermarriage	260	(3)
Race, Ethnicity, and Intermarriage	263	(5)
Summary	268	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	269	(1)
Discussion Questions	270	(1)
Further Readings	270	(3)
Premarital and Nonmarital Relationships	273	(40)
Sociocultural Context of Nonmarital Relationships	275	(7)
The Social Construction of Love	279	(3)
Individualistic Factors in Partner Selection	282	(2)
Instinctive and Biological Theories	282	(1)
Parental Image Theory	282	(1)
Complementary Needs Theory	283	(1)
Interactional Processes in Partner Selection	284	(5)
Value Theory	284	(2)
Role Theory	286	(1)
Exchange Theory	287	(1)
Sequential Theories	288	(1)
Processes of Status Change: Single to Married	289	(6)
Hooking Up and Dating	291	(3)
Engagement	294	(1)
Nonmarital Cohabitation	295	(14)
Incidence and Prevalence of Cohabitation	296	(3)
Methodological Concerns in the Study of Cohabitation	299	(4)
Interactional Patterns and Outcomes in Cohabiting Relationships	303	(3)
Cohabitation and Marital Quality and Stability	306	(2)
Cohabitation among People Who Are Elderly	308	(1)
Cohabitation and the Law	308	(1)
Summary	309	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	310	(1)
Discussion Questions	310	(1)
Further Readings	311	(2)
Nonmarital Sexuality	313	(27)
Social Regulation of Sexual Relationships	315	(1)
Biological versus Sociological Approaches to Sexual Behavior	316	(2)
The Social Dimensions of Sexuality	318	(4)
Social Network Theory	319	(1)
Choice Theory	319	(1)
Sexual Script Theory and Sexualization	320	(2)
Sexual Orientation	322	(2)
Nonmarital Sexual Behavior	324	(5)
Family Antecedents of Sexual Behavior	324	(2)
Nonfamily Influences on Sexual Behavior	326	(1)
Relevance of Formal Sex Education	327	(2)
Premarital Sexual Intercourse	329	(8)
Changes in Premarital Sexual Activity	331	(2)
High-Risk Sexual Behavior and AIDS	333	(4)
Summary	337	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	338	(1)
Discussion Questions	338	(1)
Further Readings	339	(1)
PART IV Life Course Conditions and Changes in Families	340	(158)
The Marital System	341	(50)
Transition to Marriage	343	(3)
Division of Labor in Marriage	346	(13)
Meanings of Housework and the Homemaker Role	347	(3)
Gender Differences in Housework	350	(6)
Employed Women and Marriage	356	(3)
Power in Conjugal and Intimate Relationships	359	(6)
Characteristics of Power	360	(1)
Power and Decision Making in Intimate Relationships	361	(4)
Marital Quality	365	(9)
Assessing Marital Quality	365	(5)
Marital Quality between Generations	370	(1)
Marital Quality over the Life Course	371	(3)
Marital Commitment and Stability	374	(2)
Sex and Marriage	376	(5)
Changes in Marital Sexual Activity	376	(2)
Factors Related to Marital Sexuality	378	(2)
Sexual Adjustment in Marriage	380	(1)
Extramarital Sex	381	(3)
Incidence of and Attitudes toward Extramarital Sex	381	(3)
Same-Sex Relationships	384	(1)
Summary	385	(2)
Key Terms and Topics	387	(1)
Discussion Questions	387	(1)
Further Readings	388	(3)
The Parental System	391	(36)
Transition to Parenthood	393	(3)
Mothers' Roles	393	(1)
Fathers' Roles	394	(1)
Parents' Roles	395	(1)
Value of Parenthood	395	(1)
Social Consequences of Parenthood	396	(2)
Young and Unwed Parenthood	398	(11)
Concerns about Young Parenthood	398	(4)
Concerns about Unwed Parenthood	402	(7)
Family Size and Related Factors	409	(14)
Birthrates	409	(3)
Childless Marriages	412	(3)
Effects of Family Size on Members	415	(4)
Birth Order and Sibling Relationships	419	(2)
Sex Control	421	(2)
Summary	423	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	424	(1)
Discussion Questions	424	(1)
Further Readings	425	(2)
Parent---Child Interaction and Socialization	427	(34)
Socialization of Parents and Children	429	(1)
Preconditions for Socialization	429	(1)
Theories of Socialization Processes	430	(16)
Learning/Behaviorist Frame of Reference	431	(1)
Psychoanalytic Frame of Reference	432	(3)
Child Development Frames of Reference: Erikson and Piaget	435	(3)
Symbolic Interaction Frame of Reference	438	(8)
Socialization in Adolescence and Beyond	446	(3)
Gender Identity and Sex-Role Socialization	449	(7)
Female--Male Differences	450	(4)
Sex-Role Socialization	454	(2)
Summary	456	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	457	(1)
Discussion Questions	458	(1)
Further Readings	458	(3)
The Aging Family	461	(37)
Postparental Period: The Middle Years	462	(7)
Marital Status and Coresidence in the Middle Years	463	(3)
Significance of the Middle Years	466	(3)
Grandparent Status	469	(3)
Stepgrandparents	472	(1)
Grandparent Rights	472	(1)
Families of Later Life and People Who Are Aged	472	(11)
Growth of the Elderly Population	472	(3)
Marital Status in the Later Years	475	(3)
Intergenerational Relationships	478	(3)
Living Arrangements among the Elderly	481	(2)
Common Problems of People Who Are Aged	483	(3)
Health and Care	483	(2)
Children's Problems	485	(1)
Income and Standard of Living	485	(1)
Abuse and Neglect	486	(1)
Socialization in Later Life	486	(1)
Retirement	487	(2)
Dying and Death	489	(2)
Widows and Widowers	491	(3)
Summary	494	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	495	(1)
Discussion Questions	495	(1)
Further Readings	496	(2)
PART V Family Crisis and Social Policy	498	(100)
Family Violence	499	(32)
Social Stresses on Families	501	(4)
ABCX Model of Stress	502	(1)
Variations of the ABCX Model	503	(2)
Violence in Families and among Intimates	505	(21)
Myths of Family Violence	506	(2)
Causes of Family Violence	508	(1)
Child Abuse and Violence	509	(5)
Parent Abuse and Violence	514	(1)
Wife and Female Partner Abuse and Violence	514	(5)
Husband and Male Partner Abuse and Violence	519	(1)
Mutual Abuse and Violence in Couples	520	(1)
Sibling Abuse and Violence	521	(1)
Elderly Abuse and Violence	522	(1)
Violence among Other Intimates	523	(1)
Treating and Preventing Family Violence	524	(2)
Summary	526	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	527	(1)
Discussion Questions	527	(1)
Further Readings	528	(3)
Divorce and Remarriage	531	(42)
Desertion and Marital Separation	533	(2)
Annulment	535	(1)
Divorce around the World	535	(2)
Divorce in the United States	537	(25)
Divorce Rates	537	(3)
Trends in Divorce	540	(3)
Variations in Divorce	543	(7)
Legal and Social Grounds for Divorce	550	(3)
Impact of Children on Parental Divorce	553	(1)
Consequences of Divorce for the Adults Who Divorce	554	(2)
Consequences of Divorce for Children of Divorced Parents	556	(6)
Remarriages and Stepfamilies	562	(6)
People Who Remarry	562	(2)
Marriage among the Remarried	564	(1)
Remarried Couples with Stepchildren: Reconstituted Families	565	(3)
Summary	568	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	569	(1)
Discussion Questions	570	(1)
Further Readings	571	(2)
Family Social Policy	573	(25)
Meaning and Use of Family Policy	575	(1)
Research on Family Policy	576	(5)
Research to Establish Family Policy	578	(1)
Research to Evaluate Existing Family Policy	578	(1)
Research on the Impact of Family Policy	579	(1)
Overview of Research	580	(1)
Issues Surrounding Family Policy	581	(10)
Goals and Objectives of Family Policy	581	(1)
Levels of Policy Control	582	(2)
Public versus Private Positions	584	(2)
Preventive or Ameliorative Policy	586	(1)
Biological or Relationship Policy	587	(2)
Micro-versus Macro-Level Policy	589	(2)
Future of the Family System	591	(3)
Summary	594	(1)
Key Terms and Topics	595	(1)
Discussion Questions	596	(1)
Further Readings	596	(2)
Glossary	598	(15)
Name Index	613	(9)
Subject Index	622