CYAF 280 final exam questions and
answers graded A+ updated
5 family functions that are similar worldwide - correct answer ✔✔o Sexual activity
o Procreation and socialization
o Economic security:
o Emotional support
o Social class placement
2 marriage rules similar worldwide - correct answer ✔✔1. countries vary in their specific norms
and laws dictating who can marry whom and at what age, but marriage everywhere is an
important rite of passage that marks adulthood and its related responsibilities, especially
providing for a family
2. all societies have rules, formal or informal, about the "right" marriage partner.
• Endogamy: cultural practice that requires marrying within one's group (homogamy)
• Exogamy: cultural practice that requires marrying outside one's group (heterogamy)
Know five ways families are different worldwide. - correct answer ✔✔1. Family structure
2. Nuclear and extended families
3. Residence patterns
4. Authority and power
5. Monogamy and polygamy
Know whether rates of divorce and teenage non-marital childbearing have increased or
decreased in the U.S. in the past two decades. - correct answer ✔✔both have decreased
,How does the birth of a first baby impact marital satisfaction? - correct answer ✔✔The arrival
of a first baby typically pushes mothers and fathers apart. Generally, child rearing lowers marital
satisfaction for both partners.
What is the "unit" of analysis? - correct answer ✔✔o When using a systems approach to
understanding family life, one has to view the family unit as a whole and, therefore, not use the
individual as the primary focus of interest.
o We must understand the relationships and interaction that occur with this family entity/unit.
Each role found within the family is dependent on the others.
o Example: one cannot be a mother unless there are people to "mother"
which type of subsystem: spousal; parental; Could be siblings; parent-child - correct answer
✔✔executive subsystem
break in a 2-person dyad (subsystem) where a 3rd entity is brought in (stability) - correct answer
✔✔family triangle/triangulation
3 most common:
• child as scapegoat: child is the problem or source of tension, not the marriage. Instead of
dealing with spousal problems, parents direct their anger towards their child. Child's role
becomes "problem child"/source of family problems. Child is the symptom bearer
• child as mediator: child acts as the counselor. Child feels responsible for problems within the
marriage
• perverse: child is enmeshed with 1 parent, conflict/distance with the other parent. One parent
develops a relationship with the child that is too close that creates distance with the other
parent.
, what are the 3 most common types of family triangles - correct answer ✔✔child as scapegoat,
child as mediator, perverse
type of family triangle: child is the problem or source of tension, not the marriage. Instead of
dealing with spousal problems, parents direct their anger towards their child. Child's role
becomes "problem child"/source of family problems. Child is the symptom bearer - correct
answer ✔✔child as scapegoat
type of family triangle: child acts as the counselor. Child feels responsible for problems within
the marriage - correct answer ✔✔child as mediator
type of family triangle: child is enmeshed with 1 parent, conflict/distance with the other parent.
One parent develops a relationship with the child that is too close that creates distance with the
other parent. - correct answer ✔✔perverse
patterns of interaction and communication that maintain stability and minimize change. AKA
deviation dampening loops
Ex: family is faced with an event (parent loses a job) family is spinning because there could be
tension and stress; family will support the parent, talk to their network, rally around this to try
and make this event go away
Goal is homeostasis/morphostasis - correct answer ✔✔negative feedback loop
patterns of interaction and communication promote and facilitate change AKA deviation
amplification of family embraces change and change becomes incorporated into the family
system
Ex: family is faced with an event (dad loses a job), family ignores it, starts making new demands
on dad, asks dad to take on some more work at home "stay at home dad" while mom tries to
get promoted at her job.
answers graded A+ updated
5 family functions that are similar worldwide - correct answer ✔✔o Sexual activity
o Procreation and socialization
o Economic security:
o Emotional support
o Social class placement
2 marriage rules similar worldwide - correct answer ✔✔1. countries vary in their specific norms
and laws dictating who can marry whom and at what age, but marriage everywhere is an
important rite of passage that marks adulthood and its related responsibilities, especially
providing for a family
2. all societies have rules, formal or informal, about the "right" marriage partner.
• Endogamy: cultural practice that requires marrying within one's group (homogamy)
• Exogamy: cultural practice that requires marrying outside one's group (heterogamy)
Know five ways families are different worldwide. - correct answer ✔✔1. Family structure
2. Nuclear and extended families
3. Residence patterns
4. Authority and power
5. Monogamy and polygamy
Know whether rates of divorce and teenage non-marital childbearing have increased or
decreased in the U.S. in the past two decades. - correct answer ✔✔both have decreased
,How does the birth of a first baby impact marital satisfaction? - correct answer ✔✔The arrival
of a first baby typically pushes mothers and fathers apart. Generally, child rearing lowers marital
satisfaction for both partners.
What is the "unit" of analysis? - correct answer ✔✔o When using a systems approach to
understanding family life, one has to view the family unit as a whole and, therefore, not use the
individual as the primary focus of interest.
o We must understand the relationships and interaction that occur with this family entity/unit.
Each role found within the family is dependent on the others.
o Example: one cannot be a mother unless there are people to "mother"
which type of subsystem: spousal; parental; Could be siblings; parent-child - correct answer
✔✔executive subsystem
break in a 2-person dyad (subsystem) where a 3rd entity is brought in (stability) - correct answer
✔✔family triangle/triangulation
3 most common:
• child as scapegoat: child is the problem or source of tension, not the marriage. Instead of
dealing with spousal problems, parents direct their anger towards their child. Child's role
becomes "problem child"/source of family problems. Child is the symptom bearer
• child as mediator: child acts as the counselor. Child feels responsible for problems within the
marriage
• perverse: child is enmeshed with 1 parent, conflict/distance with the other parent. One parent
develops a relationship with the child that is too close that creates distance with the other
parent.
, what are the 3 most common types of family triangles - correct answer ✔✔child as scapegoat,
child as mediator, perverse
type of family triangle: child is the problem or source of tension, not the marriage. Instead of
dealing with spousal problems, parents direct their anger towards their child. Child's role
becomes "problem child"/source of family problems. Child is the symptom bearer - correct
answer ✔✔child as scapegoat
type of family triangle: child acts as the counselor. Child feels responsible for problems within
the marriage - correct answer ✔✔child as mediator
type of family triangle: child is enmeshed with 1 parent, conflict/distance with the other parent.
One parent develops a relationship with the child that is too close that creates distance with the
other parent. - correct answer ✔✔perverse
patterns of interaction and communication that maintain stability and minimize change. AKA
deviation dampening loops
Ex: family is faced with an event (parent loses a job) family is spinning because there could be
tension and stress; family will support the parent, talk to their network, rally around this to try
and make this event go away
Goal is homeostasis/morphostasis - correct answer ✔✔negative feedback loop
patterns of interaction and communication promote and facilitate change AKA deviation
amplification of family embraces change and change becomes incorporated into the family
system
Ex: family is faced with an event (dad loses a job), family ignores it, starts making new demands
on dad, asks dad to take on some more work at home "stay at home dad" while mom tries to
get promoted at her job.
