The family life cycle model - Assignment 1 (699686)

Assignment 1 – Semester 1 – MGG2601

Unique Number – 699686




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,Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 334
2. FAMILY LIFE CYCLE MODEL ..................................................................................................... 334
2.1 Outline of the family life cycle model ................................................................................... 334
2.2 Assumption(s) on which the Carter and McGoldrick model rest on ............................... 445
2.3 Overview of the different stages, key principles and second-order changes that families
typically make ..................................................................................................................................... 445
2.3.1 Stage 1 – The unattached young adult ....................................................................... 445
2.3.2 Stage 2 – the joining of families through marriage .................................................... 556
2.3.3 Stage 3 – families with young children........................................................................ 556
2.3.4 Stage 4 – families with adolescents ............................................................................ 667
2.3.5 Stage 5 – Launching children and moving on............................................................ 778
2.3.6 Stage 6 – Families in later life ...................................................................................... 889
2.4 Introduction to the family – The GENOGRAM ................................................................. 9910
2.5 Identify the stage of the family life cycle that the couple is currently experiencing 101011
2.6 Key principles and second-order changes that this family is experiencing ............. 111112
2.7 Second-order changes the couple is currently experiencing..................................... 111112
2.8 The extent to which the couple’s family life cycle adheres to Carter and McGoldrick’s
model (1989) ................................................................................................................................. 121213
2.9 Stressors............................................................................................................................ 131314
2.10 The couple’s relationship strengths ............................................................................... 151516
3. CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................... 161617
4. REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 171718




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, 1. INTRODUCTION


The family life cycle model was developed in 1989 by Betty Carter, a director of a family training
institute, and Monica McGoldrick, an associate professor in a psychiatric training institute. The
life cycle model covers six stages of life and what we as human beings endeavor through our
life journey’s. People are born into families, this is our first experience seeing the world and
understanding life. The family takes shape as they travel life together, going through many of
life’s challenges, changes and experiences. It’s our experience with our families, that shape
who we are and the impact this shape can have on our lives in the future. The families past and
present helps us frame our identity and development, which in turn will help us determine our
future and what it will entail for us.

There are six stages within the life cycle model which include: Stage 1 – the unattached young
adult, stage 2 – the joining of families through marriage, stage 3 – families with young children,
stage 4 – families with adolescents, stage 5 – launching children and moving on and stage 6 –
families in later life. Each model will be covered in much more detail in this essay. The stages
will make better sense on reading about the life of an elderly couple whom I will be interviewing.
I chose an elderly couple as it will be showing us in real life, how each stage played off in their
journey and will eventually make us all realise what to expect, as we get older.




2. FAMILY LIFE CYCLE MODEL


2.1 Outline of the family life cycle model


The family life cycle model reinforces the intergenerational connection of families and adds to
the depth with which clinicians view family problems and strengths. This model aids a
practitioner to give more attention to the continual personal and interpersonal adjustment
processes required by all family members. It also reflects symptoms and relationship difficulties
in relation to normal functioning over time.

The family life cycle model was developed in 1989 by Betty Carter, a director of a family training
institute, and Monica McGoldrick




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