Chapter 11 - Social Development: Relationships and Roles

deinstitutionalization of marriage

the decline in marriage and the emergence of alternate family forms during the last third of the twentieth century

serial cohabitation

living sequentially with different partners outside of marriage

u shaped curve of marital satisfaction

the most common pathway of marital happiness in the West, in which satisfaction is at its highest at the honeymoon, declines during the child-rearing years, then rises after the children grow up

triangular theory of love

Robert Sternberg’s categorization of love into three facets: passion, intimacy, and commitment

romantic love

passion + intimacy

companionate relationship

intimacy + commitment

sexual relationship

passion + commitment

consummate love

the ideal form of love, in which a couples relationship involves all three of the major facets of love: passion, intimacy, and commitment

fertility rates

the average number of children a woman in a given has during her lifetime

breadwinner role

traditional concept that a man’s job is to support a wife and children

nurturer father

father who actively participates in hands-on childcare

traditional stable career

a career path in which people settle into their permanent life’s work in their twenties and often stay with the same organization until they retire

boundaryless careers

today’s most common career path for Western workers, in which people change jobs or professions periodically during their working lives

realistic type

These people enjoy manipulating machinery or working with tools. They like physical activity and being outdoors. If you fit this profile, your ideal career might be in construction, farming, or car repair

investigative type

These people like to find things out through doing research, analyzing information, and collecting data. If you fit this pattern, you might get special satisfaction in a scientific career

artistic type

These people are creative and nonconforming, and they love to freely express themselves in the arts. If this is your type, a career as a decorator, dancer, musician, or writer might be ideal

social type

These people enjoy helping others and come alive when they are talking with other human beings. If this description fits you, a career as a bartender, practicing physician, or social worker might be right

entrepreneurial type

These people like to lead others, and they enjoy working on organizational goals. As this kind of person, you might find special joy as a company manager, in sales, or in starting your own business

conventional type

These people have a passion for manipulating data and getting things organized. If you fit this type, you would probably be happy as an accountant, copyeditor, or clerk

intrinsic career rewards

work that provides inner fulfillment, allowing people to satisfy their needs for creativity, autonomy, and relatedness

extrinsic career rewards

work that is performed through external reinforcers, such as pay

role overload

A job situation that places so many demands on workers that it becomes impossible to do a good job

role conflict

A situation in which a person is torn between two or more major responsibilities—for instance, parent and worker—and cannot do either job well

work-life balance

A situation in which people feel a perfect balance, energized and happy at work and fulfilled with other aspects of their lives

occupational segregation

The separation of men and women into different kinds of jobs