Working With Families Final Exam Questions
With All Correct & Verified Answers
Family development Correct answer-Individuals follow normative developmental patterns
Families also go through developmental stages
development of individual members occurs within the framework of family development and they
influence each other
Family life cycle model Correct answer-Provides a framework for understanding family
development
- divides family into stages over the life span
- development proceeds through "phases" and "stages"
- 3 phases: coupling, expansion, contraction
- 6 stages: young adult - later life
Movement from one stage to another is called... Correct answer-Transition
- transition times are often the most challenging periods for families due to significant change and
stress
-transitions are often when symptoms appear in families as they struggle to adapt
- each stage has developmental roles, rules, tasks and challenges associated with it
- mastering goals and tasks of each stage allows for more successful movement from one stage of
development to the next
Homeostasis in the family life cycle... Correct answer-- needs to be established at each
developmental stage
- balance is maintained by the families recurring patterns of interaction, boundaries, rules and set of
problem-solving strategies
- balance is disturbed by fundamental change, when the tried and true no longer work (when
disciplinary methods lose effectiveness)
Family Life Cycle Model "Normal" Development Correct answer-- as with all models, need to
reflect on fit
- not universally applicable
- multiple variations in life cycle of families
- was based on life cycle of middle class
- culture, family structure, ongoing stress, crises etc impact life cycle of families
- won't fit all families but can be foundation for understanding family development
Family Life Cycle Model (Phases and stages) Correct answer-Phase 1: Coupling
1. Single young adult
Occurs when young adults leave home
- goal: self-differentiation in relation to family
- tasks: develop own identity, a "solid self"
~ taking responsibility for one's own life
~ establish self re: work & financial independence
~ shift from focus from family to peers
, ~ looking for romantic partner
- challenges: differentiating is hard to do: difficult to emotionally and or/physically separate from
one's own family of origin
~ a lack of social skills to establish significant relationships with others outside of family of origin
2. New couple
- occurs when single adult enters into marriage/committed relationship
- goal: form a new family system separate and distinct from the couple's family of origin
- tasks: joining of two family systems, establishing a new identity as a couple, realigning of
relationships with family and friends to include partner, making decisions about having children
- challenges: enmeshment (failure to separate from family of origin), distancing (failure to stay
connected), difficulty adjusting to living as a couple instead of as an individual, difficulty with
relatives, either family of origin or in-laws, deciding whether (or when) to have children
- Key areas of negotiation: economic decisions, emotional/intimacy, communication styles, power
arrangements, interpersonal boundaries, sexuality, decisions regarding children
- Factors which impact on couple formation: incomplete couple formation is a common (most
common) cause of family problems, problems which cause disequilibrium may subside even without
resolution, problems resurface in other stages when stress is added to the system, violence,
infidelity, incompatible rule sets, cultural/religious differences
Phase 2: Expansion
3. Families with young children
- occurs when couples have first child
- Goal:
Shortcomings of the family life cycle Correct answer-u Model/framework assumes family remains
intact from formation until death
u Assumes all families develop in the same way; doesn't account for family development which
occurs in diverse family forms i.e. never married couples, childless couples, gay and lesbian couples
u May not fully integrate culturally specific influences
u Assumes a linear progression through the stages with defined entry and exit points; this is not the
case with most families today
u Families may also greatly vary in terms of their expression of each developmental stage; this is
attributable to personal, socio-economic, cultural, sexual orientation and historical differences
Family systems Multi generational Model Correct answer-Basic premise:
- a family is an emotional system best understood when analyzed within a multigenerational or
historical context
- An emotional system refers to organized, patterned and repetitive behaviors that are instinctual
- The system has significant impact on each person's behavior, emotions and symptoms
How problems develop:
Balance of two forces: the need for togetherness and the need for autonomy
ANXIETY
- Individuals who are unable to balance pass these behaviours down to future generations
Pressure, stress and anxiety:
- Problems are seen as a families attempt to cope with stress and anxiety within the system
- As anxiety goes up, the emotional connectedness of family members becomes more stressful than
comforting
With All Correct & Verified Answers
Family development Correct answer-Individuals follow normative developmental patterns
Families also go through developmental stages
development of individual members occurs within the framework of family development and they
influence each other
Family life cycle model Correct answer-Provides a framework for understanding family
development
- divides family into stages over the life span
- development proceeds through "phases" and "stages"
- 3 phases: coupling, expansion, contraction
- 6 stages: young adult - later life
Movement from one stage to another is called... Correct answer-Transition
- transition times are often the most challenging periods for families due to significant change and
stress
-transitions are often when symptoms appear in families as they struggle to adapt
- each stage has developmental roles, rules, tasks and challenges associated with it
- mastering goals and tasks of each stage allows for more successful movement from one stage of
development to the next
Homeostasis in the family life cycle... Correct answer-- needs to be established at each
developmental stage
- balance is maintained by the families recurring patterns of interaction, boundaries, rules and set of
problem-solving strategies
- balance is disturbed by fundamental change, when the tried and true no longer work (when
disciplinary methods lose effectiveness)
Family Life Cycle Model "Normal" Development Correct answer-- as with all models, need to
reflect on fit
- not universally applicable
- multiple variations in life cycle of families
- was based on life cycle of middle class
- culture, family structure, ongoing stress, crises etc impact life cycle of families
- won't fit all families but can be foundation for understanding family development
Family Life Cycle Model (Phases and stages) Correct answer-Phase 1: Coupling
1. Single young adult
Occurs when young adults leave home
- goal: self-differentiation in relation to family
- tasks: develop own identity, a "solid self"
~ taking responsibility for one's own life
~ establish self re: work & financial independence
~ shift from focus from family to peers
, ~ looking for romantic partner
- challenges: differentiating is hard to do: difficult to emotionally and or/physically separate from
one's own family of origin
~ a lack of social skills to establish significant relationships with others outside of family of origin
2. New couple
- occurs when single adult enters into marriage/committed relationship
- goal: form a new family system separate and distinct from the couple's family of origin
- tasks: joining of two family systems, establishing a new identity as a couple, realigning of
relationships with family and friends to include partner, making decisions about having children
- challenges: enmeshment (failure to separate from family of origin), distancing (failure to stay
connected), difficulty adjusting to living as a couple instead of as an individual, difficulty with
relatives, either family of origin or in-laws, deciding whether (or when) to have children
- Key areas of negotiation: economic decisions, emotional/intimacy, communication styles, power
arrangements, interpersonal boundaries, sexuality, decisions regarding children
- Factors which impact on couple formation: incomplete couple formation is a common (most
common) cause of family problems, problems which cause disequilibrium may subside even without
resolution, problems resurface in other stages when stress is added to the system, violence,
infidelity, incompatible rule sets, cultural/religious differences
Phase 2: Expansion
3. Families with young children
- occurs when couples have first child
- Goal:
Shortcomings of the family life cycle Correct answer-u Model/framework assumes family remains
intact from formation until death
u Assumes all families develop in the same way; doesn't account for family development which
occurs in diverse family forms i.e. never married couples, childless couples, gay and lesbian couples
u May not fully integrate culturally specific influences
u Assumes a linear progression through the stages with defined entry and exit points; this is not the
case with most families today
u Families may also greatly vary in terms of their expression of each developmental stage; this is
attributable to personal, socio-economic, cultural, sexual orientation and historical differences
Family systems Multi generational Model Correct answer-Basic premise:
- a family is an emotional system best understood when analyzed within a multigenerational or
historical context
- An emotional system refers to organized, patterned and repetitive behaviors that are instinctual
- The system has significant impact on each person's behavior, emotions and symptoms
How problems develop:
Balance of two forces: the need for togetherness and the need for autonomy
ANXIETY
- Individuals who are unable to balance pass these behaviours down to future generations
Pressure, stress and anxiety:
- Problems are seen as a families attempt to cope with stress and anxiety within the system
- As anxiety goes up, the emotional connectedness of family members becomes more stressful than
comforting
