Marriage & Family Midterm #1
How does the textbook define the concepts of family? -
✅ A family is any sexually expressive, parent-child, or any other kin relationship in which
people -- usually related by ancestry, marriage or adoption.
1. Form an economic or otherwise practical unit and care for any children or other dependents
2. Consider their identity to be significantly attached to the group.
3. Commit to maintaining that group overtime.
How do Americans define family today? -
✅ Family today is post-modern. There is no typical family. Until the last 50 years, the
nuclear family was considered modern.
What are some current societal trends that impact the family? -
✅ Reproduction tech, internet, communication technology.
Give two examples of how individuals influence their society -
✅ Individuals put the notion of union and family at risk.
Individuals and family values create social tension in society.
Give an example of how a recession could influence a marital decision -
✅ Took a toll on the middle and working class. Homeowning became very difficult and
people put marriage off until they could afford it.
Give an example of how longevity could influence a marital decision -
✅ More years in education, longer marriages, and extended years of child-parent
interaction.
Give an example of how social class could influence a marital decision -
✅ Lower SES could result in intergenerational and extended households + cohabitation
Give an example of how racial discrimination could influence a marital decision -
✅ Discrimination can result in a lower quality of life and impact education opportunities.
Give an example of how religion could influence a marital decision -
✅ Some religions have strict marital guidelines. Overall, religious couples are happier.
Give an example of how age expectations could influence a marital decision -
✅ People live longer now so child-parent relationships now involve considering how to
take care of their parents when they age.
When are personal decisions made by default? -
✅ When other options are not considered, default decisions are made out of conveniency
and laziness.
1
, What is the difference between deciding versus sliding? -
✅ Sometimes we slide into a situation rather than consciously making a decision.
Deciding means one has considered their options and consequences and are aware of their values.
Sliding means they slid into a situation without a conscious decision.
What is another name for family values? -
✅ communal and collective values
How do individualistic values of American society impact the family? -
✅ Individualistic values do not put emphasis on contributing to happiness of other
members of the family and do not facilitate the attitude of making sacrifices for the family.m
What are the FOUR THEMES explicitly stated in the text? -
✅ 1. Throughout the course of life, personal decisions are required to be made.
2. People are influenced by society. Culture/values influence attitudes and decisions. The decisions
made feed back into society and influences it. Society and people are interdependent in that they
affect each other.
3. Society is characterized by change, increased diversity, and tension between individuals and
family values.
4. Society is affected by every choice you make.
Family Ecology Theory -
✅ This theory examines how family and the environment influence each other. The family
is affected by government policies that affect that environment, while family also affects the
environment.
Important issues are addressed, such as socioculture issues like globalizatikon, and society is more
sensitive to these issues.
The weakness in this theory is that it is so broad and truistic with its message of "everything affects
everything"
Family Development Theory -
✅ This theory focuses on change in the family as it developments.
It assumes all families are similar and traditional.
Its strengths are that it emphasizes on time transitions and role sequencing over course of
development.
The weakness is that it assumes that people stay married and posits that life is predictable.
Structural-Functional Theory -
✅ This theory examines the functions performed by the family.
2
How does the textbook define the concepts of family? -
✅ A family is any sexually expressive, parent-child, or any other kin relationship in which
people -- usually related by ancestry, marriage or adoption.
1. Form an economic or otherwise practical unit and care for any children or other dependents
2. Consider their identity to be significantly attached to the group.
3. Commit to maintaining that group overtime.
How do Americans define family today? -
✅ Family today is post-modern. There is no typical family. Until the last 50 years, the
nuclear family was considered modern.
What are some current societal trends that impact the family? -
✅ Reproduction tech, internet, communication technology.
Give two examples of how individuals influence their society -
✅ Individuals put the notion of union and family at risk.
Individuals and family values create social tension in society.
Give an example of how a recession could influence a marital decision -
✅ Took a toll on the middle and working class. Homeowning became very difficult and
people put marriage off until they could afford it.
Give an example of how longevity could influence a marital decision -
✅ More years in education, longer marriages, and extended years of child-parent
interaction.
Give an example of how social class could influence a marital decision -
✅ Lower SES could result in intergenerational and extended households + cohabitation
Give an example of how racial discrimination could influence a marital decision -
✅ Discrimination can result in a lower quality of life and impact education opportunities.
Give an example of how religion could influence a marital decision -
✅ Some religions have strict marital guidelines. Overall, religious couples are happier.
Give an example of how age expectations could influence a marital decision -
✅ People live longer now so child-parent relationships now involve considering how to
take care of their parents when they age.
When are personal decisions made by default? -
✅ When other options are not considered, default decisions are made out of conveniency
and laziness.
1
, What is the difference between deciding versus sliding? -
✅ Sometimes we slide into a situation rather than consciously making a decision.
Deciding means one has considered their options and consequences and are aware of their values.
Sliding means they slid into a situation without a conscious decision.
What is another name for family values? -
✅ communal and collective values
How do individualistic values of American society impact the family? -
✅ Individualistic values do not put emphasis on contributing to happiness of other
members of the family and do not facilitate the attitude of making sacrifices for the family.m
What are the FOUR THEMES explicitly stated in the text? -
✅ 1. Throughout the course of life, personal decisions are required to be made.
2. People are influenced by society. Culture/values influence attitudes and decisions. The decisions
made feed back into society and influences it. Society and people are interdependent in that they
affect each other.
3. Society is characterized by change, increased diversity, and tension between individuals and
family values.
4. Society is affected by every choice you make.
Family Ecology Theory -
✅ This theory examines how family and the environment influence each other. The family
is affected by government policies that affect that environment, while family also affects the
environment.
Important issues are addressed, such as socioculture issues like globalizatikon, and society is more
sensitive to these issues.
The weakness in this theory is that it is so broad and truistic with its message of "everything affects
everything"
Family Development Theory -
✅ This theory focuses on change in the family as it developments.
It assumes all families are similar and traditional.
Its strengths are that it emphasizes on time transitions and role sequencing over course of
development.
The weakness is that it assumes that people stay married and posits that life is predictable.
Structural-Functional Theory -
✅ This theory examines the functions performed by the family.
2
