Life Course Theory

1. Life Course Theory

2. KEY CONCEPTS • “Social Process” Time • Ontogenetic Time • Generational Time • Historical Time • Positions In Families • Family Stages • Transitions • Stage-Critical Developmental Tasks

3. Sex-Partner Role Confidante Role Sex-Partner Role Wife Mother Wife Mother Sex-Partner Role Provider Role Provider Role Companion Role Companion Role Wife Disciplinarian Role Childcare Role Companion Role Childcare Role Example of Role Relations

4. KEY CONCEPTS • “Social Process” Time • Ontogenetic Time • Generational Time • Historical Time • Positions In Families • Family Stages • Transitions • Stage-Critical Developmental Tasks

5. Stage I: Married Couple POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife Husband • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Establishing a satisfying marriage • Fitting into kin networks

6. Stage II: Childbearing POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Adjusting to Pregnancy • Having, adjusting to and encouraging the development of infants • Establishing a satisfying home for parents & infants

7. Stage III: Preschool Age POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Adapting to need/interests of preschool children • Coping with energy depletion and lack of privacy as parents

8. Stage IV: School Age POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Fitting into the community of school-age families • Encouraging children’s educational achievement

9. Stage V: Teenage POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Balancing freedom with responsibility as teenagers mature • Establishing postparental interests and “careers” as parents

10. Stage V-Break: Teenage Parent POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother-Grandmother Husband-Father-Grandfather Daughter-Sister-Mother Son-Brother-Uncle STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS ?

11. Stage V-Break: Divorce POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother Phases Of Divorce The decision to divorce Planning the system breakup Separation Divorce Managing Two Single-Parent Family Homes

12. Stage V-Break: Divorce POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS ?

13. Stage V-Break: Remarriage POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father-Husband Wife-Stepmother Daughter-Sister-Stepdaughter Son-Brother-Stepson STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS ?

14. Stage V: Teenage POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Balancing freedom with responsibility as teenagers mature • Establishing postparental interests and “careers” as parents

15. Stage VI: Launching Center POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Releasing young adults into adulthood with appropriate rituals and assistance • Maintaining a supportive home base

16. Stage VII: Middle Aged Parents POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother-Grandmother-Mother In Law Husband-Father-Grandfather-Father In Law Daughter-Sister-Aunt-”Partner”-Sister In Law Son-Brother-Husband-Father • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Rebuilding the marriage relationship • Maintaining kin ties with older and younger generations

17. Stage VIII: Aging Family POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Widow-Mother-Grandmother Wife-Mother-Grandmother Husband-Father-Grandfather • STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS • Closing the family home or adapting it to aging • Adjusting to retirement • Coping with bereavement and living alone

18. Stage VIII-Break: Aging Family POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Widow-Mother-Grandmother Daughter-Wife-Mother-Caretaker Son In Law-Husband-Father Children-Siblings-Grandchildren STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS ?