Chunk One

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering legal definitions of marriage, family diversity, research methods, and theoretical frameworks in family studies.

What is a social support network, and why is it important for romantic relationships?

A social support network consists of individuals who provide emotional, informational, practical, and social support. Having support outside a romantic partnership can reduce pressure on one's partner and benefit the relationship.

How is marriage legally defined in Canada?

Marriage is the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others, creating legally recognized rights and responsibilities.

How do federal and provincial governments differ in their jurisdiction over marriage in Canada?

The federal government determines legal capacity to marry and divorce, while provincial governments regulate marriage procedures and solemnization.

What is the difference between marriage and a common-law relationship?

Marriage is established through formal legal requirements, whereas common-law relationships generally involve unmarried partners living together. The legal rights and recognition of common-law partners depend on the jurisdiction and applicable law.

How is monogamy defined?

A marriage or relationship involving two partners.

How does polyamory differ from polygamy?

Polyamory involves multiple romantic relationships, generally with the knowledge and consent of those involved. Polygamy specifically refers to having multiple spouses.

What is singlism, and how can it influence perceptions of single individuals?

Singlism is discrimination or negative stereotyping based on being single. Single individuals may be incorrectly perceived as immature, selfish, or less socially adjusted than married individuals.

What is the difference between a family of origin and a family of procreation?

A family of origin is the family into which someone is born or raised. A family of procreation is the family an individual creates through having children.

How is a nuclear family defined?

Two parents and their children.

What are fictive kin or chosen families?

Fictive kin are individuals considered family because of close emotional and supportive relationships rather than biological or legal ties.

What is heteronormativity, and how has it influenced traditional family expectations?

Heteronormativity assumes heterosexual relationships are the standard. It has reinforced expectations that families should consist of a man and woman occupying traditional gender roles.

What is mononormativity?

Mononormativity is the assumption that romantic relationships should consist of only two partners, often treating other relationship structures as abnormal or less legitimate.

What are the major reasons individuals report getting married, and what percentage identified love in the cited U.S. research?

The major reasons are love, lifelong commitment, companionship, and having children. In the cited U.S. research, $93\%$ of married adults identified love as their primary reason.

How do Canadian census, U.S. Census, and sociological definitions of family differ?

Canadian census definitions recognize married and common-law couples and lone-parent families. The U.S. Census definition emphasizes people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together. Sociological definitions may include chosen families and other socially recognized kinship relationships.

Why might a researcher avoid describing the traditional nuclear family as the universally ideal family structure?

Because family structures vary across cultures, historical periods, and circumstances. Treating one structure as ideal may overlook diversity and the importance of family functioning.

What are the three major dimensions of marriage?

Marriage can be understood as a social commitment, a legal contract establishing rights and responsibilities, and a religious union considered sacred within some traditions.

What is the difference between a marriage and a household?

Marriage is a legally recognized relationship between spouses. A household includes everyone living in the same housing unit, whether related or unrelated.

What is monogamism, and how does it differ from monogamy?

Monogamy is a relationship or marriage involving two partners. Monogamism is the belief that monogamy is the only morally or socially appropriate relationship structure.

How does a consensual arranged marriage differ from a forced marriage?

An arranged marriage involves family participation in partner selection while allowing individuals to consent. A forced marriage occurs without the full and freely given consent of one or both individuals.

What is child marriage, and what factors contribute to its prevalence?

Child marriage involves at least one person under age $18$. Contributing factors include poverty, gender inequality, limited education, and cultural expectations.

What is patriarchy in the context of family relationships?

Patriarchy is a family or social structure in which men hold dominant authority and decision-making power.

What is the difference between childless and childfree?

Childless generally describes individuals without children, sometimes because of circumstances beyond their control. Childfree describes individuals who consciously choose not to have children.

What is collectivism, and how does it differ from individualism?

Collectivism prioritizes group responsibilities, cooperation, and collective well-being. Individualism emphasizes independence, autonomy, and personal achievement.

What is the difference between first-generation and second-generation immigrant children?

First-generation immigrant children were born outside the destination country. Second-generation children were born in that country to immigrant parents.

Why is the idealized 1950s nuclear family considered an incomplete representation of historical family life?

It emphasized a breadwinning father, homemaking mother, and children while overlooking poverty, racism, divorce, abuse, and other family experiences.

How does the family deterioration perspective compare with the family change/adaptation perspective?

The deterioration perspective argues that changing family structures weaken traditional family stability. The adaptation perspective argues that families evolve in response to social and economic conditions and that family functioning may matter more than structure.

Why must family professionals avoid treating cultural groups as homogeneous?

Individuals within cultural groups differ in values, beliefs, family practices, and personal experiences. Generalizations can create stereotypes and lead to inappropriate interventions.

What is Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory?

A theory proposing that human development occurs through interactions between individuals and multiple interconnected environmental systems.

What is family life education?

A multidisciplinary field that applies research and theory to understand family relationships, strengthen family functioning, and provide preventative education and support.

Why is a multidisciplinary approach important when studying families?

Because family relationships are influenced by psychological, biological, cultural, economic, political, and social factors that cannot be fully explained by one discipline.

What are the five essential components of consent?

Consent must be freely given, reversible, informed, engaged, and specific. It is an ongoing process that requires active communication and respect for bodily autonomy.

How do quantitative and qualitative research differ?

Quantitative research uses numerical data and statistics to identify patterns and test hypotheses. Qualitative research uses words, observations, and experiences to explore the depth and complexity of a phenomenon.

What are the four general steps of the research process?

Identify a research topic, review existing literature, develop a hypothesis when appropriate, and select a suitable study design and data-collection method.

What is the difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal research?

Cross-sectional research compares groups at a particular point in time. Longitudinal research follows the same participants over time to examine changes.

What is sampling bias, and how can it affect research generalizability?

Sampling bias occurs when a sample does not adequately represent the broader population. Findings from that sample may therefore not apply to everyone.

Why does finding a relationship between parental divorce and children's future divorce rates not establish causation?

Other variables, including social attitudes, access to divorce, and changing cultural values, may explain the association. Appropriate comparison groups and alternative explanations must be considered.

Why must researchers clearly define concepts such as relationship success?

Different definitions produce different conclusions. For example, defining success as relationship duration may classify an unhappy long-term relationship as successful while excluding satisfying relationships that end.

What are three important sources of bias or distortion in relationship research?

Researcher bias can influence interpretations, participant distortion can produce inaccurate self-reports, and time lag can make older findings less applicable to contemporary society.

What is the primary purpose of a theory in family and relationship research?

A theory organizes evidence into interconnected principles that help researchers understand, explain, and predict behaviour and relationships.

What are the five systems in Bronfenbrenner's ecological model?

Microsystem (immediate relationships and environments), Mesosystem (interactions between immediate environments), Exosystem (external systems that indirectly influence individuals), Macrosystem (broader cultural values and social expectations), and Chronosystem (changes across time).

What is social exchange theory, and what principle underlies it?

Social exchange theory proposes that individuals evaluate relationships and decisions by weighing perceived costs against benefits. It is based on utilitarianism.

What is the primary limitation of social exchange theory?

It assumes individuals make rational, intentional calculations, even though relationship decisions can be emotional, impulsive, or influenced by circumstances.

Why has family life course theory been criticized?

It may assume families follow predictable, linear, or normative transitions, overlooking families whose experiences do not follow traditional developmental pathways.

What is structural functionalism, and which researcher strongly promoted it during the 1950s?

Structural functionalism argues that specialized family roles contribute to social stability. Talcott Parsons strongly promoted this perspective during the 1950s.

Differentiate instrumental and expressive roles in structural functionalism.

The instrumental role, traditionally assigned to men, involves financial provision and maintaining order. The expressive role, traditionally assigned to women, involves caregiving and maintaining emotional relationships.

How does conflict theory differ from structural functionalism?

Structural functionalism emphasizes social stability and cooperation through specialized roles. Conflict theory emphasizes power inequalities, competing interests, and the potential for conflict to produce social change.

What is symbolic interaction theory?

Symbolic interaction theory proposes that people's behaviours and relationships are influenced by the meanings they assign to situations, interactions, and symbols.

What are the four key concepts of symbolic interaction theory?

Definition of the situation (individuals respond according to how they interpret circumstances), looking-glass self (self-image develops partly through others' perceptions), self-fulfilling prophecy (expectations influence behaviour in ways that can help produce the anticipated outcome), and taking the role of the other (understanding situations from another person's perspective).

What is Murray Bowen's family systems theory?

Family systems theory views the family as an interconnected system in which each member's behaviour influences other members and the functioning of the family as a whole.

What are the five major themes shared by feminist approaches?

They emphasize women's experiences, gender and power inequalities, social and historical context, diverse family structures, and the need to challenge or eliminate inequality.