TANZILA DAYA
STUDENT NUMBER: 65424069
MGG2601
SEMESTER 1
ASSIGNMENT 1
UNIQUE NUMBER: 776202
24 APRIL 2020
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1
1.Outline of the family life cycle model. ............................................................................................... 1
2. Introduction to the family.............................................................................................................. 9
3. Stage of the family life cycle the couple is experiencing. ........................................................... 10
4. Key principles and second order changes the family Is experiencing ........................................ 11
5. The extent to which the couple’s family life cycle adheres to Carter and McGoldrick’s model
(1989) .................................................................................................................................................... 13
,6. Stressors ....................................................................................................................................... 14
7. The couple’s relationship strength. ............................................................................................. 15
Conclusion. ........................................................................................................................................... 18
Bibliography.......................................................................................................................................... 18
Addendum A: Genogram. ...................................................................................................................... 19
Addendum B ......................................................................................................................................... 19
INTRODUCTION
This assessment is regarding the Family Life Cycle Model that has been developed by Carter and
McGoldrick’s in which various aspects of Family Life Cycle Model will be comprised. This assessment
will first introduce Family Life Cycle Model along with the models assumptions. It further discusses
the key principles of each stage that the Family Life Cycle Model is comprised of as well as the
second order changes that the family is required to make. In addition, a detailed observation is taken
at the family consisting five members going through stage five of the Family Life Cycle Model and the
key principles and second order change they have experienced in the family. There is a discussion
regarding the characteristics and practices of healthy behaviour of the couple that they have stated
in the interview as well as their advice to other couples going through the same stage followed by a
genogram. Finally, there will be a definition of stressors such as vertical stressor, horizontal stressor
and system-level stressor and the explanation of the stressor from the family that they have
identified or experienced in the marriage.
1.Outline of the family life cycle model.
Petty (2006:38,39) asserts that the Family Life Cycle Model introduced by Carter and McGoldrick’s
encourages practitioners to be familiar with the Family Life Cycle approach, since Carter and
McGoldrick’s acknowledges that such a model improves family intergenerational relations and adds
to the scope in which clinicians perceive family issues and strength. The family life cycle encourages
practitioners to stay focused on the ongoing personal and interpersonal adjustment process that all
family members seek. It looks at the symptoms and relationship problems over time in relation to
normal activity. Family life is a process that requires many changes in areas such as interactional
patterns, interpersonal feelings, roles expected of members and expectations of each other. It is
explained by the author that the Family Life Cycle emphasises the issues that family members have
encountered throughout the family's history, the developmental goals they are actually trying to
achieve and the future they are aiming towards. (Petty 2006:38,39)
ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE RESTS.
Petty (2006:76,77,78) asserts the following assumptions concerning the family life cycle model;
The achievement of the essential skills and milestones at each stage encourages family members to
effectively transition from one level of family development to the next. If the skills are not mastered,
they may progress to the next stage of the process, but are more likely to experience problems with
relationships and future transitions.
1|Page
, The impact of culture is major on families and expounds many families’ idea of what a family should
be. As Petty cited Carter and Mcgoldrick (2006:77) whose viewpoint on culture is “culture interacts
with the family life cycle at every stage”. Petty has drawn a major comparison between the Western
and African families’ idea of family. As explained by Petty, Western families put much greater
importance on the autonomy of the nuclear family, and African families reckon the extended family
as the most important family concept. “Culture influences the timing of life cycle phases, as well as
the tasks that are considered appropriate for each of the phases.” “Culture clearly defines traditions,
rituals and ceremonies that mark significant life cycle transitions”. As Petty asserts (2006:77)
Family stress is exacerbated when a cultural problem collides with the stress affiliated with a
development life cycle transition. Because of their education or tertiary studies, cultural traditions
that have been observed through the years do not make sense to the African culturist in modern
society with a more scientific viewpoint. After having children, the dispute between the couples over
traditional practices is likely to create tension in their relationship and relationship with extended
family. Petty (2006:77)
The dynamic nature of families indicates that a family issue is rarely described in a clear way. Each
members’ individual perspective of the issue mostly forms coalitions or subgroups, coalition can
result in ganging up against other family members. Petty states (2006:77)” In working with families
the helper has to define each individual’s perspective of the situation, and then help the family to
develop a mutual understanding”.
Rites of passage is given a great significance as it symbolises the individuals evolving status and the
family as a whole. Every stage of the Family Life Cycle indicates a turning point for the family and is
often represented by a ritualised ceremony. Emotions surfacing at these periods offer families
unique perspective into their interactional family processes. The three most prominent rites of
passage are funerals, weddings and the coming of the age ceremonies. Petty (2006:77)
Petty additionally cited Schenk’s (2002:31) relevant viewpoints on the Carter and McGoldrick’s
model;
The family life cycle is not a linear process as its stages does not proceed in a neat, organised or
sequential fashion. It is important to consider the complexity of families and their circumstances, as
a family may deal with more than one sage at a time. Petty explains (2006:78) in an example of two
divorcee getting married and having children from their previous marriages, they have to adjust to
one another and make space for each other’s children simultaneously. In addition, Carter and
McGoldrick firmly believe in the families’ ability to resolve challenges with very little support from
others. They believe that once the couple recognizes and clarifies the criteria of each process of
growth, they will be able to make positive and sustainable decisions in the interest of family
members and the entire family. Furthermore, Carter and McGoldrick believed in the nuclear family’s
strengths in coping with problems that they could face without outside assistance. The life stages are
academic approximations, designed primarily to clearly explain the dynamics of the complicated
relationship between various family members and the entire family. The external factors such as
social, economic, political factors, human rights movement, technology revolution, divorce rate,
HIV/Aids, increasing level of crime have influenced the family life cycle. The family life cycle of a
disadvantaged “multiproblem” family, or divorced family, a family enduring chronic illness would
vary substantially from the traditional middle-class family with fewer problems. “Multigenerational
perspective provides a rich understanding of intergenerational, subconscious experience and
themes”. Consequently, helping the practitioner recognising arising of several family issues.
As asserted by Petty (2006:79)
2|Page
STUDENT NUMBER: 65424069
MGG2601
SEMESTER 1
ASSIGNMENT 1
UNIQUE NUMBER: 776202
24 APRIL 2020
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1
1.Outline of the family life cycle model. ............................................................................................... 1
2. Introduction to the family.............................................................................................................. 9
3. Stage of the family life cycle the couple is experiencing. ........................................................... 10
4. Key principles and second order changes the family Is experiencing ........................................ 11
5. The extent to which the couple’s family life cycle adheres to Carter and McGoldrick’s model
(1989) .................................................................................................................................................... 13
,6. Stressors ....................................................................................................................................... 14
7. The couple’s relationship strength. ............................................................................................. 15
Conclusion. ........................................................................................................................................... 18
Bibliography.......................................................................................................................................... 18
Addendum A: Genogram. ...................................................................................................................... 19
Addendum B ......................................................................................................................................... 19
INTRODUCTION
This assessment is regarding the Family Life Cycle Model that has been developed by Carter and
McGoldrick’s in which various aspects of Family Life Cycle Model will be comprised. This assessment
will first introduce Family Life Cycle Model along with the models assumptions. It further discusses
the key principles of each stage that the Family Life Cycle Model is comprised of as well as the
second order changes that the family is required to make. In addition, a detailed observation is taken
at the family consisting five members going through stage five of the Family Life Cycle Model and the
key principles and second order change they have experienced in the family. There is a discussion
regarding the characteristics and practices of healthy behaviour of the couple that they have stated
in the interview as well as their advice to other couples going through the same stage followed by a
genogram. Finally, there will be a definition of stressors such as vertical stressor, horizontal stressor
and system-level stressor and the explanation of the stressor from the family that they have
identified or experienced in the marriage.
1.Outline of the family life cycle model.
Petty (2006:38,39) asserts that the Family Life Cycle Model introduced by Carter and McGoldrick’s
encourages practitioners to be familiar with the Family Life Cycle approach, since Carter and
McGoldrick’s acknowledges that such a model improves family intergenerational relations and adds
to the scope in which clinicians perceive family issues and strength. The family life cycle encourages
practitioners to stay focused on the ongoing personal and interpersonal adjustment process that all
family members seek. It looks at the symptoms and relationship problems over time in relation to
normal activity. Family life is a process that requires many changes in areas such as interactional
patterns, interpersonal feelings, roles expected of members and expectations of each other. It is
explained by the author that the Family Life Cycle emphasises the issues that family members have
encountered throughout the family's history, the developmental goals they are actually trying to
achieve and the future they are aiming towards. (Petty 2006:38,39)
ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE RESTS.
Petty (2006:76,77,78) asserts the following assumptions concerning the family life cycle model;
The achievement of the essential skills and milestones at each stage encourages family members to
effectively transition from one level of family development to the next. If the skills are not mastered,
they may progress to the next stage of the process, but are more likely to experience problems with
relationships and future transitions.
1|Page
, The impact of culture is major on families and expounds many families’ idea of what a family should
be. As Petty cited Carter and Mcgoldrick (2006:77) whose viewpoint on culture is “culture interacts
with the family life cycle at every stage”. Petty has drawn a major comparison between the Western
and African families’ idea of family. As explained by Petty, Western families put much greater
importance on the autonomy of the nuclear family, and African families reckon the extended family
as the most important family concept. “Culture influences the timing of life cycle phases, as well as
the tasks that are considered appropriate for each of the phases.” “Culture clearly defines traditions,
rituals and ceremonies that mark significant life cycle transitions”. As Petty asserts (2006:77)
Family stress is exacerbated when a cultural problem collides with the stress affiliated with a
development life cycle transition. Because of their education or tertiary studies, cultural traditions
that have been observed through the years do not make sense to the African culturist in modern
society with a more scientific viewpoint. After having children, the dispute between the couples over
traditional practices is likely to create tension in their relationship and relationship with extended
family. Petty (2006:77)
The dynamic nature of families indicates that a family issue is rarely described in a clear way. Each
members’ individual perspective of the issue mostly forms coalitions or subgroups, coalition can
result in ganging up against other family members. Petty states (2006:77)” In working with families
the helper has to define each individual’s perspective of the situation, and then help the family to
develop a mutual understanding”.
Rites of passage is given a great significance as it symbolises the individuals evolving status and the
family as a whole. Every stage of the Family Life Cycle indicates a turning point for the family and is
often represented by a ritualised ceremony. Emotions surfacing at these periods offer families
unique perspective into their interactional family processes. The three most prominent rites of
passage are funerals, weddings and the coming of the age ceremonies. Petty (2006:77)
Petty additionally cited Schenk’s (2002:31) relevant viewpoints on the Carter and McGoldrick’s
model;
The family life cycle is not a linear process as its stages does not proceed in a neat, organised or
sequential fashion. It is important to consider the complexity of families and their circumstances, as
a family may deal with more than one sage at a time. Petty explains (2006:78) in an example of two
divorcee getting married and having children from their previous marriages, they have to adjust to
one another and make space for each other’s children simultaneously. In addition, Carter and
McGoldrick firmly believe in the families’ ability to resolve challenges with very little support from
others. They believe that once the couple recognizes and clarifies the criteria of each process of
growth, they will be able to make positive and sustainable decisions in the interest of family
members and the entire family. Furthermore, Carter and McGoldrick believed in the nuclear family’s
strengths in coping with problems that they could face without outside assistance. The life stages are
academic approximations, designed primarily to clearly explain the dynamics of the complicated
relationship between various family members and the entire family. The external factors such as
social, economic, political factors, human rights movement, technology revolution, divorce rate,
HIV/Aids, increasing level of crime have influenced the family life cycle. The family life cycle of a
disadvantaged “multiproblem” family, or divorced family, a family enduring chronic illness would
vary substantially from the traditional middle-class family with fewer problems. “Multigenerational
perspective provides a rich understanding of intergenerational, subconscious experience and
themes”. Consequently, helping the practitioner recognising arising of several family issues.
As asserted by Petty (2006:79)
2|Page
