Families & Parenting

PSY 213 Test 3

Family as a Changing System: Complexities of Family 

• Family and residence are different (divorced couples) 

• Family membership is asymmetrical (step siblings/stepparents) 

• Family members are not always related by blood, marriage or adoption (Found family, friends, etc.) 

Family as a Changing System: Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner) 

• Development is driven by complex interactions from contexts in which an individual lives 

• Family is in microsystem which is the closest related system 

• Cultural norms regarding parenting can have an impacts 

Family as a Changing System: Family Systems Theory 

• Family is a “system” 

• Family is interrelated & reciprocally influencing each other 

• Small nuclear family or complex extended family 

• System is guided by rules and roles 

•  Definition of families vary by context & culture 

Family as a Changing System: Life Course Theory

• Age-related life patterns imbedded in social structures & cultures that are subject to historical change 

Key Ideas: 

• Linked lived or interdependent lives 

• Transitions= marked by the beginning or close of an event or role (1st job, new partner, new child) 

• Turning points= critical experiences that lead to a new direction (death of a family member, loss of job) 

Singlehood

increasing, driven by delayed marriage and a greater acceptance of single life as a valid choice, though this status is often linked to economic challenges 

Coupling

shifting away from marriage and toward cohabitation, with cohabiting relationships becoming more common but not fully offsetting the decline in marriage 

Families

are diverse, marked by delayed parenthood and a "decoupling" of marriage from parenthood, leading to a greater variety of family structures and a rise in both cohabiting and single-parent households 

Blended Family

• A family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships

• The adults in the relationship have often been in other relationships, some bring kids from past relationships

• Mix of step children and new children together

Roles of Caregivers & Change

• These roles are shifting, becoming more fluid and shared as fathers increasingly take on emotional caregiving and mothers take on financial and other roles.  

• This evolution is influenced by economic changes and a societal move toward more egalitarian partnerships, with a greater emphasis on shared, hands-on parenting from both mother and father 

Impacts of Parenting

• A major shift in the family system 

• Time and energy that was once focused on the self, the couple, or outside activities must be adjusted to care for the new family member 

• Makes new subsystems 

• Parents monitor child's opportunities and lives, as well as act as social initiators for their children 

• Researchers have found that family-management practices are related to students’ grades and self-responsibility 

• From infancy through adolescence, mothers are more likely than fathers to have a managerial role in guiding and managing the activities in which children participate 

• Chronosystem impacts parenting! Think of women entering the workforce, stay at home dads, etc. 

Good Coparenting

• A collaborative approach where separated or divorced parents work together, prioritizing their children's well-being and stability over their personal differences

• It involves open communication, mutual respect, and presenting a unified front to provide a consistent and nurturing environment for the child

Authoritative Parenting

•  Have expectations but also sensitive to child’s feeling and needs 

• Best outcomes  

Results in children: 

• Socially competent 

• Less likely to exhibit symptoms of depression or anxiety 

Authoritarian Parenting

• Very demanding, low sensitivity 

• Demand the best from their children but offer little affection 

Results in children: 

• More anxious 

• Less social competence 

• Worse communication skills 

Permissive Parenting 

• Parents who indulge children 

• Spoiling 

• Don’t have any expectations for child, let them run free/ undisciplined 

Results in children: 

• Have behavioral issues 

• Used to getting whatever they want 

• Issues with criticism 

Neglectful Parenting

• Low demands, low affection 

• Not involved 

Results in children: 

• Behavioral concerns 

• Low social skills 

Developmental Changes & Effect on Parents

• Parents must redefine their authority and navigate increased conflict during adolescence as children assert their identity, while also adjusting to a shifting social dynamic where peer relationships become more central. This contrasts with earlier stages where parents were more in charge of fostering trust, autonomy, and a sense of industry 

• shifting them from a protective, nurturing role in infancy to a guiding, supportive role in adolescence, and eventually to an adult-to-adult relationship in adulthood 

Major Effects on Couples

• The first year of marriage involves adjusting to merging lives and daily habits

• New parenthood is marked by stress, exhaustion, and a potential shift in intimacy.  

• Raising two or more children intensifies the strain from division of labor and exhaustion.  

• The empty nest phase can lead to a rediscovered identity and relationship, but also potential communication gaps and conflict as the marriage's role has changed.  

• Grandparenting offers a new dynamic, potentially increasing relationship closeness for some while presenting challenges if the couple has different expectations or adult children's needs create new pressures 

Sandwich Generation

• Refers to the demographic of adults who are simultaneously caring for their own children and their aging parents

• This "middle" generation often provides financial, physical, and emotional support to both generations, creating unique pressures and challenges like stress, burnout, and work-life strain

Sibling Relationships & Effects

• Sibling relationships influence development and well-being across the lifespan, yielding both positive and negative outcomes depending on their quality

• The salient elements of these relationships are warmth/closeness, conflict, and rivalry 

Effects of Divorce

• Divorce typically creates emotional and behavioral challenges for parents and children, such as anxiety, depression, and academic issues for children, and stress for parents.  

• Good adjustment is more likely when parents minimize conflict, maintain consistent routines, provide emotional support, and communicate openly with their children 

Empty Nest Phase

Refers to great emotional distress experienced by parents, typically mothers, after children have left home

What happens during this phase

• More martial satisfaction

• Greater Independence

• Stress for some parents