Family Composition
Mom, Dad and Children
(AKA: The Traditional Family)
Nuclear Family
Parental Warmth:
Warm, Nurturing
Express affection and smile at the child frequently
Limit Criticism and punishment
Express approval of Child
High Level
High Control, low warmth
- Child May become fearful, withdrawn, unassertive
- Girls often passive and dependent
- Boys often rebellious and aggressive
Authoritarian
Stage I
Beginning family; Newly married couple
The qualities of family relationships and of family behaviors are important aspects of family strengths and family functioning. Positive family relationships are characterized by parent–child warmth and supportiveness. Warm parent–child relationships can buffer children from stress and promote positive cognitive and social outcomes. Parents who are warm and place high demands on their children for appropriate behavior have children who tend to be content, self-reliant, self-controlled, and open to learning in school.
Mom, Dad, Children, Uncles, Aunts...ETC.
Extended Family
Parental control
Permissive, minimally controlling
Makes fewer demands
fewer restrictions no behavior or expression of emotion
Permit freedom in exploring environments
Low Level
Moderately high control, high warmth
-Tends to be the best adjusted, self-reliant, self controlled and socially competent
- High Self Esteem
- Better School performance
Authoritative
Stage II
and
Stage III
Child Bearing (Oldest is infant to 30 months)
Family with Preschool age Child (Oldest is 2.5 to 6)
Mothers may be eager to have a child but be concerned about fulfilling all the expectations of others (father, the baby, other children, her parents, close friends, and employer). Fathers anticipate increased responsibility and many are concerned about their ability to provide adequate support for the family.
Transition into parenthood
Two parents with biological children from other marriages
Blended/ Reconstituted Family
Parental Control
Restrictive control on behavior
Survey and enforce compliance with rules
May limit freedom of expression
High Level
Low control, High warmth
-May become rebellious, aggressive and socially inept, self-indulgent and/or impulsive
-May be creative, active and outgoing
Permissive
Stage IV
Family with school age children (Oldest being 6 to 13 years of age)
This influences the amount of attention given to children
Family Size
Post divorce in which the biological children are members of 2 nuclear families
Usually involves joint-custody.Bi-nuclear
Parental Warmth
Cool, Hostile/ ignores the child
Quick to criticize or punish
Rarely express affection or approval
Rejection may be seen
Low level
Low control, Low warmth
-May show a high expression of destructive, impulsive and delinquent behavior
Indifferent
Stage V
and
Stage VI
Family with teens (oldest being 13 to 20 years of age)
Family launching young adults (All children leave home)
The first peers of a child and often have a lifelong relationship lasting up to 70 or more years. Those who are closer in age tend to have a closer relationship because they often share many common experiences through childhood and adolescence
Siblings
A couple that may or may not have children living with each other outside of marriage
Heterosexual cohabiting
Stage VII
and
Stage VIII
Middle age parents (Empty nest to retirement)
Family in retirement and old age