Family Interaction: A Multigenerational Developmental Perspective

by Anderson, Stephen A.; Sabatelli, Ronald M.

• ISBN13: 9780205485475
• ISBN10: 0205485472
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-05-17
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Using a family systems and a multigenerational, developmental framework, this text highlights the challenges faced by contemporary families as they move through the life course. Family Interaction offers a comprehensive overview of the major conceptual models that are used to understand the patterns and interactional dynamics that operate in families. It provides readers with an overview of the basic tasks that all families must execute regardless of their particular composition or living situation and, at the same time, offers readers an appreciation of the varied and unique ways each family develops its patterns of interaction. As with every edition, this text has been thoroughly updated, including new research on parent-child relations, adolescent adjustment, couple communication, divorce, and conflict resolution.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
PART I Defining the Family	1	(40)
The Family as a System	3	(16)
Chapter Overview	3	(1)
The Family as a System	3	(1)
The Difficulty of Defining the Family	4	(2)
The Characteristics of Family Systems	6	(1)
Structural Properties of Families	6	(3)
Strategies and Rules	9	(2)
The Tasks That Families Must Execute	11	(1)
First-Order Tasks	12	(2)
Second-Order Tasks	14	(2)
The Politics of the Family	16	(1)
Conclusions	17	(1)
Key Terms	18	(1)
Family Strategies	19	(22)
Chapter Overview	19	(1)
Family Strategies	19	(1)
Identity Strategies	20	(4)
Boundary Strategies	24	(2)
Maintenance Strategies	26	(3)
Strategies for Managing the Family's Emotional Climate	29	(3)
Strategies for Managing Stress: Adaptability as a Second-Order Task	32	(6)
Conclusions	38	(1)
Key Terms	39	(2)
PART II Models of Family Functioning	41	(46)
Structural Models	43	(13)
Chapter Overview	43	(1)
Structural Models of Family Functioning	43	(2)
The Structural Model	45	(6)
Mapping the Family Structure	51	(3)
Conclusions	54	(1)
Key Terms	55	(1)
Intergenerational Models	56	(16)
Chapter Overview	56	(1)
Intergenerational Models of Family Functioning	56	(1)
Core Concepts in the Bowen Model	57	(5)
Managing Unresolved Issues with the Family of Origin	62	(4)
The Genogram: Insight into Intergenerational Processes	66	(4)
Conclusions	70	(1)
Key Terms	71	(1)
Contextual Models: Family Diversity	72	(15)
Chapter Overview	72	(2)
Ethnicity	74	(1)
A Metaperspective on Cultural Diversity	75	(2)
The Broader Racial and Ethnic Context	77	(1)
Class, Socioeconomic Status, and Family Diversity	77	(2)
Poverty, Racism, and Family Life	79	(2)
Acculturation and Family Diversity	81	(1)
Ethnicity, Race, and Family Strategies	82	(3)
Conclusions	85	(1)
Key Terms	85	(2)
PART III Family Developmental Stages	87	(176)
Section I Early Adulthood and Marriage
The Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood	91	(20)
Chapter Overview	91	(1)
The Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood	91	(1)
The Individuation Process	92	(5)
The Individuation Process and Subsequent Development and Adjustment	97	(3)
Individuation Difficulties and the Problems of Youth	100	(8)
Other Problems of Forced Individuation	108	(1)
Conclusions	109	(1)
Key Terms	110	(1)
Mate Selection and Family Development	111	(20)
Chapter Overview	111	(1)
Mate Selection and Family Development	111	(1)
Selecting a Lifetime Companion	112	(4)
Comparison Levels: The Uniqueness of Our Filters	116	(6)
The Impact of Family of Origin Experiences on Mate Selection	122	(5)
Mate Selection and Relationship Dynamics	127	(2)
Conclusions	129	(1)
Key Terms	130	(1)
The Transition to Marriage: The New Marital System	131	(20)
Chapter Overview	131	(1)
The Transition to Marriage: The New Marital System	131	(4)
The Tasks of the Newly Married Couple	135	(14)
Conclusions	149	(1)
Key Terms	150	(1)
Communication and Intimacy	151	(18)
Chapter Overview	151	(1)
Communication and Intimacy	151	(1)
Defining Communication	152	(4)
Conversational Styles	156	(5)
Communication and Intimacy within Marriage	161	(6)
Conclusions	167	(1)
Key Terms	168	(1)
Conflict in Marriage	169	(27)
Chapter Overview	169	(1)
Conflict in Marriage	169	(1)
Areas of Conflict	170	(1)
The Underlying Sources of Conflict in Marriage	170	(5)
The Dynamics of Managing Conflict	175	(4)
Interactional Patterns Leading to Marital Success and Failure	179	(10)
Marital Violence	189	(5)
Conclusions	194	(1)
Key Terms	194	(2)
Section II The Parenting Years
Families with Young Children: The Transition to Parenthood	196	(17)
Chapter Overview	196	(1)
Parenthood as Just One Developmental Pathway	196	(1)
The Changing Context of Parenthood	197	(1)
The Structural Diversity within Families with Children	197	(1)
The Challenges Confronted by the Family with Young Children	198	(14)
Conclusions	212	(1)
Key Terms	212	(1)
The Parent-Child Relationship System	213	(18)
Chapter Overview	213	(1)
The Parent-Child Relationship System	213	(1)
Dimensions of Parenting Style	214	(3)
Determinants of Parenting Style	217	(4)
Gender and Parenting Styles	221	(1)
Ethnic and Minority Parenting	222	(4)
The Effectiveness of Parenting Styles: Child Abuse and Neglect	226	(3)
Key Terms	229	(2)
Section III The Middle and Later Years of Family Development
Family Tasks during Middle Adulthood	231	(15)
Chapter Overview	231	(1)
Family Tasks during Middle Adulthood	231	(1)
The Marriage Relationship during the Middle-Adult Years	232	(4)
Parent-Child Dynamics during Middle Adulthood	236	(8)
The Demands of Being in the Middle	244	(1)
Key Terms	245	(1)
The Family in Later Life	246	(17)
Chapter Overview	246	(1)
The Family in Later Life	246	(1)
Marriage during the Later-Adult Years	247	(4)
Intergenerational Dynamics during the Later Years	251	(5)
Family System Dynamics and the Caregiving/Care-Receiving Relationship	256	(5)
Conclusions	261	(1)
Key Terms	262	(1)
PART IV Alternative Family Developmental Pathways	263	(72)
Death, Loss, and Bereavement	265	(20)
Chapter Overview	265	(1)
Death, Loss, and Bereavement	265	(1)
Death within the Family System	266	(2)
Factors Mediating the Family System's Response to Death	268	(5)
A Multigenerational, Developmental Perspective on Death	273	(5)
Unresolved Grief and Family Strategies	278	(5)
Conclusions	283	(1)
Key Terms	284	(1)
Divorce	285	(18)
Chapter Overview	285	(1)
Divorce	285	(1)
Divorce as a Family Process	286	(8)
Adaptation Following Divorce	294	(5)
An Intergenerational Systems Perspective on Divorce	299	(2)
Conclusions	301	(1)
Key Terms	301	(2)
The Single-Parent Household	303	(16)
Chapter Overview	303	(1)
The Single-Parent Household	303	(1)
Diversity within Single-Parent Systems	304	(1)
Single-Parent Family Systems: Prevalence and Challenges	305	(1)
Challenges in Meeting Basic Tasks within Single-Parent Systems	305	(9)
Adaptation to Single-Parenthood: Sources of Social Support	314	(3)
Conclusions	317	(1)
Key Terms	318	(1)
Remarriage and Stepparenting	319	(16)
Chapter Overview	319	(1)
Remarriage and Stepparenting	319	(4)
A Developmental Model for Remarried Family Systems	323	(7)
Problematic Family System Dynamics in Remarried Stepfamilies	330	(3)
Conclusions	333	(1)
Key Terms	333	(2)
References	335	(26)
Name Index	361	(9)
Subject Index	370