Chapter 10: Power, Social Media, and Family Decision Making
Power and the Five Types of Family Resources
Power within family decision making is facilitated through the utilization of various resources by family members to increase their influence over how family decisions are made.
There are distinct types of resources that family members utilize: - Normative Resources: These are based on cultural and social norms. They identify specific individuals who should inherently possess the most power or specify which areas of family life given individuals should control based on societal expectations. - Economic Resources: This resource type dictates that power is tied to financial contribution. Specifically, the individual who brings in the largest amount of money typically makes the majority of financial decisions for the household. - Affective Resources: These focus on emotional traits and the ability an individual has to alter relational interactions to their own benefit. It involves the use of emotion and relational maneuvering to exert influence. - Personal Resources: These resources are related to the individual personality or the physical appearance of family members, which can be used to leverage power within the family unit. - Cognitive Resources: Power is acquired in this category through the application of logic, reasoning, observation, and analysis. Family members use these cognitive tools to create what they perceive as the best possible outcome, thereby gaining influence.
Symmetry and Dynamics in Family Decision Making
The internal power dynamic of a family significantly affects the overall decision-making process. These dynamics are categorized into four types of symmetry: - Competitive Symmetry: This occurs when each partner holds power in one specific area and attempts to use that power to coerce the other person into agreeing with their specific decision. - Submissive Symmetry: In this dynamic, the distribution of power is unclear. Because the hierarchy is undefined, neither partner takes responsibility for the decision-making process, often leading to stagnation. - Neutralized Symmetry: This represents a state where power is equally distributed and balanced. Consequently, family discussions are characterized by respect and sympathy, and all resultant actions focus on mutual compromise. - Complementary Symmetry: This dynamic involves partners taking turns exerting power and dominance. One person acts as the leader while the other acts as the follower for specific tasks (e.g., "I'll do this now, but you take over later"). This pattern is noted for keeping the family moving forward.
The Principle of Least Interest and Evolving Power Roles
All communication patterns and power resources are subject to and neutralized by the "Principle of Least Interest." - This is a consistent phenomenon wherein the partner with the least amount of interest in continuing the relationship actually holds the most power within that relationship.
Resource Impacts on Needs: - Financial Resources: These have the power to affect the basic physical needs of the family. - Emotional and Psychological Resources: These possess greater power than financial resources to change actual attitudes and behaviors within the family unit.
Power Shifts: - Power dynamics undergo determined shifts once the basic needs of the family are established and fulfilled. - A longitudinal observation suggests that as time passes, regardless of their employment status, women tend to exert greater power within their families. - This power is specifically exerted through their ability to serve as nurturers and cycle emotional supporters.
The Impact of Social Media on Family Decision Making
Social media exerts a significant impact on how families make decisions, often introducing negative variables into the process:
Distraction and Reduced Presence: - Constant notifications and the "allure of scrolling" serve to distract family members. This occurs even during critical conversations regarding the management and allocation of family resources.
Filter Bubbles and Echo Chambers: - Personalized algorithms expose individuals to biased information or misinformation. - This creates a "Reality Distortion Field" that can significantly hinder effective and objective decision-making.
Comparison and Pressure to Conform: - Social media creates a sense of competition based on the curated online lives of others. - Younger generations are particularly susceptible, feeling the most pressure to make decisions that align with perceived social norms rather than the actual needs of the family. - These perceived social norms can lead to unrealistic expectations and increased levels of anxiety.
Consequences for Family Dynamics: - Younger family members may become angry, frustrated, and resentful over how family resources are managed if those decisions do not align with social media pressures. - This resentment ultimately degrades the effectiveness of the family decision-making process.