Intro to Family Studies Chapter 1

Globalization

An influence on our choices: The economic, political, and religious changes in other nations that affects what happens in ones own nation. Additionally, ones own nation influences well-being

Social structure

An influence on our choices: The distinct arrangement of institutions where humans live and interact

Institutions

Largest element of society; Established and enduring patterns of social relationships Ex: school

Social groups

Make up institutions; two or more people who share a common identity, interact, and form a social group. Ex: co-workers

primary social groups

Intimate and informal interactions

Secondary social groups

impersonal and formal interactions

Statuses

Position a person occupies in a social group. Ex: Student, mother

Roles

Rights, obligations, and expectation of status. Ex: Attending class

Culture

An influence on our choices: the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group

Beliefs

Definitions and explanations of what is true

Values

Standards regarding good and bad, desirable and undesirable

Emotional

Importance of marriage: Promotes __________ stability

Socialization

Importance of marriage: Provides first form of ______________

Economic

Importance of marriage: Provides __________ support

Social exchange

Theory of marriage and family: Views interactions and choices in terms of cost and profit. Most commonly used framework

Family life course

Theory of marriage and family: emphasizes importance of transitions in individuals that occur in different periods of life

Structural functional

Theory of marriage and family: How marriage and the family contributes to the workings of society. Families contribute new and socialized members

Conflict theory

Theory of marriage and family: Individuals in relationships compete for resources such as money, time, and power. Family members have different goals that conflict

Symbolic interactionism

Theory of marriage and family: Marriage and families give meaning to each others behaviors. Can be done through looking-glass self and self-fulfilling prophecy

Family systems

Theory of marriage and family: Each member of family works as part of a system that develop norms of interacting which can be said or expected

Family of origin

Family you were born in

Family of procreation

Family you began

Traditional family

Two parents with father as breadwinner and mother as homemaker

Modern family

Dual earner family, a father and mother

post-modern family

Family that includes same sex couples, single parent homes, dual income, and more

Polygyny

One husband and two or more wives

Polyandry

One wife and two or more husbands

Mating gradient

Norm that gives men social approval to seek out young women and women to seek out older, financially secure men

Sociological imagination

The influence of social structure and culture on interpersonal choices