Lecture 5: Family relationships

Question 1

What is the family systems approach?

Answer 1

Approach to understanding family functioning that emphasizes how each relationship within the family influences the family as a whole. Family comprised of network of subsystems, Subsystems can include: all dyads, all combinations of 3+ family member. Subsystems influence each other

Question 2

what is disequilibrium?

Answer 2

Family composition and dynamics can change over time
(Change in any member or subsystem creates disequilibrium + Require adjustments to restore equilibrium). Puberty as common source of change. Parent-adolescent interactions more variable, less predictable

Question 3

What is the role of parents in childhood?

Answer 3

Food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, warmth, safety

Question 4

What rapid changes take place regarding parents role when children reach adolescence?

Answer 4

Basic needs still essential but also new challenges and priorities. Social interests extend beyond family unit (e.g., friends, romantic partners). Adolescents expect more autonomy, trust, influence. Can differ from parents expectations. Conflict increase

Question 5

Parent-adolescent conflict

Answer 5

Conflict peaks in early adolescence, Particularly between mothers and daughters and Declines in late adolescence. But adolescents and parents agree on most important aspects of life (E.g., love and respect for each other). Arguments are generally (but not always) over minor issues (E.g., clothing, curfews, music, neatness, time management)

Question 6

What are some sources of conflict?

Answer 6

Specific incidences (e.g., family structure dispositions)
General influences: Changing roles and lines of authority, (Parents seem less physically imposing as adolescent grows, Increased cognitive abilities (better at arguing), Adolescent desire to have more say in decision making), Sexual issues arise, Differences in defining autonomy
 Differences in perceived goals and priorities

Question 7

What are the parental goals for children?

Answer 7

1) Ensure survival to adulthood
2) Give skills and attitudes to support themselves in adulthood
3) Encourage social values
Functions as a hierarchy Being able to make a living trumps concerns about self-expression and Survival trumps economic concerns

Question 8

What are the 2 dimensions of baumrind’s parenting styles?

Answer 8

Demandingness: degree to which parents set down rules and expectations for
behavior and require their children to comply with them Responsiveness: degree to which parents are sensitive to their children’s
needs and express love, warmth, and concern for them

Question 9

What are the 4 types of parenting styles?

Answer 9

Authoritative (high demanding high responsiveness), permissive (responsive but undemanding), authoritarian (high demand and low responsiveness), disengaged (relatively uninvolved)

Question 10

Which parenting style is associated with the most favourable outcomes?

Answer 10

Authoritative associated with most favourable outcomes-Balance (autonomy-responsibility, demanding-responsive)

Question 11

Do parents always fit into one type of parenting style?

Answer 11

Parents don’t always fit exactly into one type: Differential parenting for siblings (Nonshared environmental influences among siblings), Parenting styles can change over time, Parent and adolescents differ in reports of parenting behaviour (greater difference associated with poorer adolescent functioning)

Question 12

What is inconsistency between separate parents parenting style associated with?

Answer 12

Low self esteem and school performance

Question 13

What are feedback loops?

Answer 13

Reciprocal (or bidirectional) effects, Adolescents may evoke certain behaviours from their parents

Question 14

What is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 14

a system in which an increase or decrease in one factor leads to a change in the same direction in the other factor (Changes system)

Question 15

What is a negative feedback loop?

Answer 15

a system in which an increase or decrease in one factor leads to a change in the opposite direction in the other factor (Keeps system stable)

Question 16

How does parenting style differ in terms of cultural?

Answer 16

Desired warmth & control varies by culture
Western culture:Authoritative style more common/preferred
Non western cultures: Traditional parenting style: High in responsiveness and high in a kind of demandingness. Does not quite fit into parenting style terminology used in western cultures. Closer to authoritative

Question 17

How might siblings (or the absence of them) impact the family dynamic?

Answer 17

Availability of resources (Financial, Parent attention/time)
Opportunity for conflict
Opportunity for learning through social interactions
Identity development
Privacy/time alone
Learning opportunities (modeling/ teaching)

Question 18

What are some sibling relationship patterns?

Answer 18

Caregiver: one sibling serves parental functions for other
Buddy: treat each other as friends
Critical: high conflict and teasing
Rival: compete against each other, measure success against one another
Casual: not emotionally intense, little interaction

Question 19

Siblings and conflict

Answer 19

Adolescents tend to have more conflict with siblings than anyone else. However, many have buddy relationships with siblings and feel close to them, But still rate closeness with siblings as lower than with friends and parents

Question 20

What is sibling conflict like in emerging adulthood??

Answer 20

Decline in sibling conflict. Relationships become calmer, more distant during teen years, Fewer negative and positive interactions. Siblings who are close as children remain fairly close as adolescents
Siblings who fought a lot as children continue to fight

Question 21

What is the birth order theory?

Answer 21

Order a child is born in his/her family. Proposed by Alfred Adler: birth order influences personality. First child is ‘dethroned’ with arrival of second child – experience loss. Last or only child are pampered and spoiled. Middle child can feel ignored/overlooked – middle child syndrome

Question 22

Birth order: fact or fiction?

Answer 22

Sample of 20,000+ participants from US, Germany, Great Britain, Compared birth order effects within and between families, Controlled for sibship size. Did find that first borns scored higher on intelligence tests. No birth order effects on big five personality

Question 23

Why didnt they find birth order theory to be true?

Answer 23

Confounding factors: Genetic effects (e.g., temperament), Individual/ non-shared experiences, Parenting, Gender effects, Family size, Family resources, Age spacing

Question 24

So is birth order meaningless?

Answer 24

Not entirely, Siblings (& birth order) may have impact on other aspects of adolescent development. Risky behavior more common among middle & last borns. Educational attainment lower among later born. Identity formation more advanced among earlier borns

Question 25

What are the different family compositions?

Answer 25

Nuclear family, divorced family, single parent family, blended/step family, multigenerational family, adopted family, LGBTQ family, and commuter families etc.

Question 26

Have divorce rates increased or decreased over the last 50 years?

Answer 26

Rise in divorce rates

Question 27

Divorce has a higher risk for what negative outcomes?

Answer 27

Behaviour problems (drug/alcohol use, early sexual intercourse), Psychological distress (depression, anxiety, withdrawal), Academic performance (school performance, less likely to pursue higher education)

Question 28

Who shows fewer negative effects of parental divorce?adolescents or young children?

Answer 28

Adolescents, But can still experience effects of parental divorce into emerging adulthood (and beyond). Greater problems in forming close romantic relationships and risk of divorce higher in those from divorced families

Question 29

What factors are important to consider when looking at the variability in response to parental divorce

Answer 29

Exposure to conflict between parents, effects of divorce on parenting practices (Shift in parenting (less affectionate, more permissive, less consistent, more reliant on child). Increased economic stress

Question 30

Who does parental remarriage effect more? Adolescents or children?

Answer 30

Adolescents have a harder time adjusting to remarriage than children. At Greater risk for: Depression, anxiety, conduct disorders, Lower academic achievement, Delinquent activities

Question 31

What are the causes of negative outcomes in parental remarriage?

Answer 31

Disruption of the family system (Integration of new family member(s) + Another adjustment to change post-divorce) Reorganization of family structure (E.g., step parent attempts to exercise authority over adolescent met with resistance) Additional transition to deal with in adolescence

Question 32

parental remarriage: mitigating negative effects

Answer 32

The Majority of adolescents eventually overcome initial problems. However, Adjustment dependent on: How parent & step parent relate to adolescent, Parenting style, Consistent, supportive discipline sensitive to teen’s development

Question 33

why do sibling relationships improve In emerging adulthood?

Answer 33

Spent less time together/ joint activities. May be living apart, reduced opportunity for conflict. More emotional exchanges, warmth and Conflict and rivalry less intense. Less emotional extremes

Question 34

Why do relationships with parents improve in emerging adulthood

Answer 34

EA may not be living at home anymore: No/less day to day friction, Shift in parent-child dynamic, More independence and autonomy granted to emerging adults. Appreciate their parents more, EA’ s recognize challenges of adulthood

Question 35

Leaving the nest and returning home

Answer 35

Leaving home: In western cultures, common to leave home, University/college, job,living with friends or romantic partners
Returning home (boomerang kids): or never leaving home
Bridge transition to post university life, Burden of paying own bills

Question 36

living at home during emerging adulthood is more common among…

Answer 36

Men, EA’s in ontario, and immigrants & visible minorities (cultural preferences)

Question 37

Is the number of EA’s living at home increasing?

Answer 37

Yes, it is increasing (from 1981-2011)

Question 38

Why did people think this trend is increasing? (emerging adults living at home)

Answer 38

Failure to launch: Popular perception and Eas living at home are ‘deficient’ in psychological development (stunted), Perception that Eas today are lazy, entitled, narcissistic. Applies to some, but not all or even most

Question 39

What is the new reason people think the trend is increasing?

Answer 39

Financially prudent (saving for a home of their own), Challenge the perception of EAs living at home as “twenty -something Peter Pans”. Alternative perception that EAs are carefully choosing the right path into adulthood, Being conscientious, making the right decisions, and doing things the right way

Question 40

Why has a shift in thinking taken place? (regarding reasons why emerging adults live at home)

Answer 40

They are Adapting to a new world: Education (Increasingly required, Increased debt, Lost income)
Career opportunities (More competitive, Lower earnings)
Cost of living is increasing (Housing costs, transportation
Social norms (Delayed marriage and parenthood, Changing priorities)

Question 41

What are the modern day challenges of being an emerging adult?

Answer 41

Rising trend in emerging adults living at home may be in response to unique economic and social challenges of modern day. Comparisons to previous generations need to be put in context