Marriage and the family - Midterm

sociological theory

a set of related concepts used to describe, explain, and predict how society and its parts are connected.

Macro theory

a theory used to study large-scale society, such as countries, populations, or major social institutions.

Micro Theory

a theory used to study individuals and small groups, such as couples, families, or teams.

conflict theory

a perspective that focuses on inequality, competition, power, and limited resources in society

structural functionalism

a perspective that views society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability and balance.

symbolic interactionism

a perspective that focuses on small group interactions, communication, symbols, meanings, and how people interpret situations.

family systems theory

the family is a complex system of connected members and smaller subsystems, so a chnge in one part can affect the rest of the family.

family developmental theory

looks at how families change and develop through different stages of family life.

life course perspective

looks at how people’s lives and families change and develop through different stages of family life.

social exchange theory (SET)

people evaluate relationships by comparing their rewards and costs and try to maximize rewards while minimizing costs

Ecological theory

how a family is affected by its surrounding environment, including community, institutions, culture, and society.

feminist theory

examines gender, inequality, power, and women’s experiences, especially how social structures can contribute to women’s oppression

family

a socially recognized group connected through relationships such as blood, marriage, cohabitation, or adoption that provides emotional and economic support.

intimacy

social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical trust mutually shared between family members

what are the (5) family functions

economic support, emotional support, socialization, sexuality/ reproductive control, and status.

nuclear family

a family consisting of parents and their children living as a family unit

extended family

a family consisting of parents and their children living as a family unit

blended family

a family that includes relatives beyond the immediate/nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, etc.

demography

the study of populations, especially births, deaths, and migration.

Natural increase

births - deaths in a population

net migration

people moving into an area people moving out of an area.

population change

the combination of natural increase and net migration

baby boom generation

people born between 1946-1964, when U.S birth rates increased dramatically after World War II

cultural relativism

Understanding a culture by looking at its own cultural context instead of judging it according to your own culture.

ethnocentrism

judging another culture according to the standards of your own culture

Survey

a research method that collects information from people by asking them questions

qualitative research

research that focuses on detailed descriptions, experiences, meanings, and personal perspectives.

quantitative research

research that focuses on detailed descriptions, experiences, meanings, and personal perspectives.

nominal data

categories with no particular order

ordinal data

categories that have a meaningful order/ranking

interval data

numerical data with equal intervals, but no true zero

ratio data

numerical data with equal intervals and a true zero, allowing meaningful ratios

family tradition

a practice, belief, or activity that is passed down and repeated within a family

family ritual

a repeated family activity that creates connection, meaning, and predictable patterns.

family entropy

the process of decay, disorder, or weakening within a family system

marital entropy

he forces of decay and chaos that gradually wear down a marriage unless the couple actively works against them.

role strain

stress caused by difficulty meeting the demands of a role.

role overload

having more role demands than you have enough time or resources to handle

role conflict

when the demands of two or more roles interfere with each other

what are factors that strengthen families?

family traditions and rituals, spirituality, keeping family history, quality family time, staying connected, strengthening the couple relationship, and resisting family/ martial entropy

exogamy

choosing a partner outside your own nuclear and extended family

compatibility

choose someone whose needs can be met by you and whose needs you can meet

maximize rewards/ minimize costs

look for a partner who provides more rewards than costs

homogamy

the tendency for people to choose partners who are similar to then in background, interests, values, and characteristics

warning signs

learn to recognize dangerous or unhealthy traits in a potential partner before becoming deeply involved

similarity principle

the more similar two people believe themselves to be, the more likley their relationship is to continue and succeed

reward

something a relationship provides that helps meet a person’s needs or desires

cost

something about a relationship that makes it harder to meet your needs or desires

outcome

the overall results of the relationship after considering rewards and cost

comparison level (CL)

the standards a person uses to decide whether their relationships is satisfying, baes on what they believe they deserve or expect

high CL

a person has high expectations for what a relationship should provide

Low CL

a person has lower expectations and may be satisfied with fewer rewards

comparison level for alternatives (CLalt)

a person’s perception of how good their other options are outside the current relationship

dependence

how much a person needs the current relationship because their alternatives seem worse

commitment

the intention to remain in and maintain a relationship

biological sex

a person’s biological classification based on reproductive characteristics, chromosomes, anatomy, and physiology.

gender

the cultural and social meaning attached to being a man, women, or other gender category.

Margaret Mead

anthropologist who studied how culture influences gender roles

sex and temperament in three primitive societies

Mead’s famous 1935 work examining gender behavior in three societies

Arapesh

both men and women were described as displaying traditionally feminine traits, such as cooperation and sensitivity

Mundugumor

both men and women were described as displaying traditionally masculine traits, including aggression

tchambuli

women were described as socially dominant and aggressive, while men were more passive and artistic

global gender gap index

a measure used to compare the gap between men and women across countries

what are the four pillars of gender index gap

economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival.

wage disparity

difference in earnings between men and women

instrumental tasks

goal oriented tasks that connect the family to society and help obtain recourses, especially economic resources

expressive tasks

tasks focused on creating and maintaining emotional relationships, nurturing, and social connections

breadwinner

a person who earns income outside the home and uses it to financially support the family

homemaker

a person primarily responsible for household and caregiving work

men’s movement

a social movement focused on improving the quality of life and family related rights of men

industrial revolution and family roles

the industrial revolution shifted much economic production from the home/ farm to factories and helped create the more distinct breadwinner/ homeworker roles.