Family Dynamics and Time Management

Flashcards covering key concepts from a lecture on family types, communication theories (CPM and RDT), and practical time management techniques.

Boomerang family

Adults who move back to their original home after living independently, often due to economic reasons like a recession.

Commuter family

A family arrangement where one or more members regularly travel back and forth between two residences, typically one for work and one for home life.

Step family

A blended family formed when parents with children from previous relationships marry or partner, often presenting volatile relationships with a higher likelihood of failure, especially in the first two years.

Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPM)

A theory based on the assumption that individuals believe they own their information and can regulate its privacy, using disclosure as a rule-based process to reveal or conceal information.

Boundaries (in CPM)

Metaphorical boundaries created through communication that define what information is private, varying in permeability and access rules.

Permeability (in CPM)

Refers to the flexibility or rigidity of metaphorical privacy boundaries, indicating how easily information can pass through them.

Access rules (in CPM)

Rules that dictate who is allowed to know private information and when it can be shared, dynamically changing over time.

Violation (in CPM)

When established privacy rules or boundaries are broken, such as sharing information before the owner is ready.

Relational Dialectic Theory (RDT)

A theory explaining that individuals and relationships experience a 'tug of war' between competing and often conflicting desires, which guide behavior.

Openness vs. Connection (in RDT)

A relational dialectic where the desire to be open and share information conflicts with the desire for privacy or to avoid negative consequences.

Autonomy vs. Connection (in RDT)

A relational dialectic where the desire for independence and self-sufficiency (autonomy) conflicts with the desire for closeness and bonding (connection) in relationships.

Novelty vs. Predictability (in RDT)

A relational dialectic where the desire for spontaneity, variety, and newness (novelty) conflicts with the desire for routine, security, and stability (predictability).

Procrastination

The act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions, often struggling to start or finish assignments.

Pomodoro Method

A time management technique that involves focusing intensely on a task for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break, repeating the cycle to improve focus and productivity.

Parkinson's Law

The principle that work expands to fill the time available for its completion, suggesting that setting strict time limits can encourage efficient task completion.

To-do list

A written list of tasks to be completed, often including reminders and deadlines, used as a tool for organization and time management.

Breaking tasks down

A time management strategy of dividing large or complex assignments into smaller, more manageable chunks to reduce overwhelm and make tasks seem less daunting.

Cramming

Studying intensely for an exam in a short period, which typically leads to information being stored only in short-term memory rather than long-term, hindering application.

Rewarding yourself

A motivational technique in time management where one completes a task or set of tasks and then allows themselves to enjoy a desired activity as a reward.

Rise in father involvement

A significant increase in active participation of fathers in child-rearing and family life, particularly notable in younger generations compared to baby boomers.