Lecture 2: Major Family Theories

What is a Theory?

Defined as an organized set of ideas about a topic; what we know so far about a topic

A good or active theory will continue to develop.

Theories can change. Especially scientific theories

Theories are distinct from personal experience or opinions. We all have “armchair theories.” Scientific theories are different from personal experiences and opinions

Despite knowing this, we all have blinders and biases. We may be biased towards certain things without knowing it and that’s why we follow systematic research studies to help us give us a less biased point of view or to give those biases less influence.

Theories can provide different perspectives

Different perspectives can help us find or see new or creative ideas to help families address any issues they’re dealing with, any concerns they may have. etc.

Structural-Functionalism Theory

• Argues that we need to fulfill certain family roles that maintain our society.

This theory argues that the purpose of families is to have children and raise them for society.

Assumes the best way to do this is:

• Male instrumental/breadwinning

• Female expressive/nurturing/homemaking

Play your part/fulfil your role to maintain status quo in society; roots in Communist theory

Assumes family will function smoothly with shared values and specific roles

Very focused on cisgendered, married couple and their biological children

This version of families gained traction through 1950s sitcoms.

The Ideal Versus Reality:

• Concept of dysfunction emerged from this theory

  • Any family that didn’t fit the stereotypical family described would be labeled “dysfunctional”

• New focus on functional alternatives (families that don’t fit the nuclear family structure but that function to procreate and raise productive citizens)

Strengths of Structural Functionalism Theory:

• People know what to expect/know their role in the family

• There’s an emphasis on caring for the children or ensuring that children are cared for in order to become contributing members of society

Weakness of Structural Functionalism Theory:

• Slaps a label of “dysfunctional” or “functional alternatives” on families that don’t fit the mold of a structural-functional family.

• The assumption that everything will be well if everyone stayed in their assigned roles

Family Development Theory

• Argues that families go through predictable stages, mastering certain tasks along the way

• Sometimes referred to as family life course theory or family life course development theory

One of the first family focused theories with a separate identity from sociology and psychology

• Psychology based theories tended to focus on individuals compared to families

• Sociology based theories were broader in a way that they focused on society and culture

• Family development theory originated from the critiques of both perspectives

Assumption is that families perform better when they move through stages “in order” (role sequencing, normative order hypothesis) and “on time”

• Assumes families and individuals are constantly developing, will face predictable family stress, and will need supports

Stages are marked by:

• Addition or subtraction of family members

  • Through birth, adoption, marriage, death, etc

• Stages of child development

  • Infant period, preschool age, adolescent, etc

• Changes in family’s connections to institutions (i.e., school, work)

  • retirement, graduation from school, etc

Strengths of Family Development Theory:

• There’s some validity to this idea in anticipating common stages in families

• Anticipating common stages in families ensures that tools can be given to families to help them become successful in the upcoming stages

Weaknesses of family Development Theory:

• Not all families follow the stages or fit the mold of the family described in the theory

Family Systems Theory

• Argues family members are interrelated – constantly influencing each other and the whole family unit

  • You can’t have changes in one family member without it affecting the family unit

• Origins in natural sciences and psychotherapy

• Associated with concept of family as a “unity of interacting personalities” and a living, growing “super personality” that “has at its essence the interaction of its members”

• Emerged as a cohesive theory in the 1960s

Family system is surrounded by a boundary (varying in permeability/openness)

• Change → disequilibrium

• Family will seek equilibrium (balance)

• For lasting change, the entire family system must change

Family systems theory also has roles (like structural-functionalism) but those roles are flexible and can change based on circumstances and the needs of the family (unlike the classic version of structural-functionalism)

Emphasizes equilibrium or balance

• Autonomy & cohesion

  • Theorists are going to argue that each member has some degree of autonomy but will also do things to help the family.

  • Balance between your own needs and desires and the desires of the overall family unit

• Routine & flexibility

  • Need to have enough routine that the family can kind of predict their daily life but also have some flexibility that the family can manage with some deviations from routines

• Tradition & openness to new

  • Similar to routine and flexibility, there’s a balance between traditions vs openness to new experiences or ideas

• Predictability & novelty

  • Same as routine & flexibility and Tradition & openness to new

Family systems theory heavily emphasize balance

Family systems theorists will state that some conflict is okay within the family or group compared to the structural-functionalism theorists that emphasize keeping peace within the group

Strengths of Family Systems Theory

• Can be easily be applied to different kinds families or groups of people

Limitations of Family Systems Theory

• Does not place enough acknowledgement to external factors that would influence the family

• Doesn’t hold certain individual family members accountable

Family Ecology Perspective

Argues that families interact with various environmental systems

• Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model is connected to this

  • Compared it to a russian doll

• Born out of the late 1800s concept of studying organisms in their environment

  • There was concern about family welfare during this time period

• Heavily associated with Urie Bronfenbrenner’s early ecological systems theory (which has since evolved).

  • Concept that the individual brings certain limited inborn traits to the environment and interact with the environment at multiple levels

• All levels of the perspective are interrelated and influence one another

Interacts with these systems

• Influence goes both ways

Comprehensive and complex model

Environment can provide

• Opportunities

• Advantages

• Threats

• Disadvantages

Advantages of Family Ecology Perspective

• It’s very comprehensive and complex

• We get to see in detail how certain really impacts family and practically leaves no stone left unturned

Disadvantages of Family Ecology Perspective:

• Not much responsibility placed on the family or the internal family dynamics

• This is a difficult theory to study or create a study from because it’s so complex/comprehensive