Social Science Disciplines:

1. Social Science Disciplines: • Anthropology: • The study of humans and their cultures in societies • Psychology: • The study of behaviour based on mental processes • Sociology: • The study of behaviours within social groups.

2. Basic Theories Functionalism Systems Exchange Theory Life-Course Approach Symbolic Interactionism Conflict Feminist Ecological perspective

3. Case Study # 1 The Van Hoight’s are a first generation Dutch Canadian blended family. The parents have both been divorced from a previous marriage. Both mom and dad work (dual income) while their four children attend school or are babysat by Oma and Papa (dad’s parents) through the day. Anita and Heather (ages 8 and 6) are children born of dad’s first marriage. Andrew (age 7) is a product of mom’s first marriage. Carrie is now 3 years old – a product of the current relationship. The family struggles to maintain a complex schedule of holidays, celebrations and family visits with the parents and extended family members while maintaining a busy activity schedule. The family shares the household tasks somewhat equally, with recognition of the strengths and ages of the members.

4. Functionalism • Assumptions: • The family is an institution among other social institutions • There are strengths within the family unit • The functions of the family (as studied in class) ensure that the members are socialized • Values and norms create status and roles within the family unit • Weaknesses: • intolerant of deviations from nuclear family structure • if not "normal" than deviant, abnormal or defective • Ignores family violence including sexual abuse • Unclear as to why societies change • Assumes one set of values and norms despite multiculturalism

5. Case study #1 explained through Functionalism • The reconstitution of these families into one more traditional 2-parent unit adds strength to society and allows these families to more easily fulfill its functions • The family is deviant due to past divorce and current blended structure – these breaches from the traditional family structure create strains on the family member’s roles and status within the unit

6. Potential Research Question(s):Functionalism • How does the blended family impact on traditional family values? • Can a re- constituted family still perform as an institutional structure within society, given it’s ties to previous family structures?

7. Systems • Orientated from structural functionalism • Assumptions: • see family as part of a social system • effects on one part creates effects to all other parts of the system; like "ripples on a pond"; accounts for individual impact on family • routines, rules, rituals create patterns of behaviour • family problems are the result of failed roles • New circumstances / problems cause families to fall back on “tried and true” roles to bring family back to normal • destructive behaviour is part of a cycle • explains destructive behaviours over generations (eg. Abuse cycle) • Weaknesses: • Little focus / reference to social factors • Takes for granted family members want to stay together in a unit

8. Case study #1 explained through Systems Theory • The ripples of two family systems have met and merged • The roles, rituals and rules of the reconstituted family structure are worked through and new patterns in behaviours are formed within new system • Old traditions from previous systems still act as stability at times until new roles are established and accepted • Existing links to old systems continue to impact on new system (eg. Four sets of grandparents, other non-custodial parents, and other extended family; these links may prove problematic if roles not successfully re-structured

9. Potential Research Question(s):Systems theory • What are the impacts of previous family systems upon a newly created re-constituted family system? • How do the relationships from past family systems help and hinder the relationships within the new system?

10. Symbolic Interactionist Theory • Assumptions: • Behaviour is believed to be symbolic of feelings and perceptions • Responses are based on history of interactions between and among family members • roles are studied from the viewpoint of the individual’s interactions; • Emphasis on development a sense of self worth • Weaknesses: • ignores factors of laws, economics, class and values • Ignores to wider impact of society on family relationships • does not explain society wide changes

11. Case study #1 explained through Symbolic Interactionism • Feelings and perceptions of the children within the new structure are at risk due to perceptions of new roles and circumstances – esteem of children may be impacted upon by old roles and new expectations • Previous experiences in former family structures (both as a family unit, and as a single divorced parent) influence perceptions of success / failure within current family unit; each individual within the unit may perceive this differently; each member may progress positively or negatively based on ability to integrate new roles and perceptions into own schema • New family relationships may symbolize hope, stress, re-birth, giving up, conflict, peace etc. based on impression of current relationship and impact of past experiences

12. Potential Research Question(s):Symbolic interactionism • Are there common perceptions of the new relationships represented within a re-constituted family? • What do the previous relationships represent within the schema of the individual?

13. Life-Course Approach • Assumptions: • looks at the entire life cycle • Divides each cycle into stages or steps • family changes in predictable ways • success in life achieved through acquisition of developmental tasks • Explains why failure to achieve tasks results in unhappiness and social disapproval • Failure to perform according to social time clock results in difficulties as family member is “out of sync” • Weaknesses : • most families do not fit the theory • assumes nuclear family as the norm • experiences of men and women assumed to be the same

14. Case study #1 explained through Life-Course Approach • Normal life cycle of the family out of sync or fractured; not a predicted progression within a normal family • New structures need to form to support continued growth and progression of this family unit else this family doomed to unhappiness and stagnation (stuck at one stage of development) • Children at risk for slowed or lack of progression in individual development if they are not supported in the transition to the new structure

15. Potential Research Question(s): Life course Appoach • How is the developmental progression of the family impacted upon when a family merges? • What are the developmental impacts upon individual family members when a new family structure is formed?

16. Exchange Theory • Assumptions: • that family members hold value based on abilities, personality, or appearance • Family interactions viewed in terms of “costs” and “benefits” • expect fair exchange for benefits between individuals • helps us understand decision making especially within husband and wife relationships • Weaknesses: • does not explain family dynamics • Focuses mostly on husband /wife relationships / individual not family needs • Assumes people always behave based on self-interest

17. Case study #1 explained through Exchange theory • New family structure holds more benefits than old structures • New relationships will be tested and accepted or rejected based on cost or benefit to individual; eg. New sibling alliances may be rejected if cost perceived to be too high • Siblings likely test each others values to determine worth; likewise, step-parents likely to be tested by new members of family to determine safety, trust, personality etc. for future interactions – need by individual to evaluate costs / benefit of specific interactions with that individual

18. Potential Research Question(s): Exchange theory • What are the societal costs created by a re-constituted family? • How do individuals evaluate new cost / benefit relationships within a reconstituted family?

19. Conflict Theory • Assumptions: • explains power relationships and inequalities; especially changes or shifts in power. • critiques society as a whole • Emphasis is put on negative aspects of family influences • Explains why values passed through generations • Weakness: • does not explain how families contribute to society

20. Case study #1 explained through Conflict theory • Society may view this family differently due to size and re-constituted format • Power and equality of this family within society and of the members within the unit family unit under scrutiny • Family structure exists due to society’s inability to assist and maintain original family units • Reconstituted family represents a power shift from previous units; new grouping will have more power to act as a whole than previous two smaller groups

21. Potential Research Question(s):Conflict theory • What societal power structures are effected by the merging of two households? • How do power inequities between large blended families and society impact on each other?

22. Feminist theories • Subsection of Conflict theory • Assumptions: • specifically addresses inequities related to female / male gender roles; • several forms of feminist theory • Weakness: • sometimes radical or limited world views • Often assumes gender inequity • Often blames male society members and history for inequities

23. Case study #1 explained through Feminist theories • Society view this family as necessary to ensure female is cared for within a family unit, creating a power inbalance for the female as she moved from the sole head of a household to a shared arrangement • Power and equality of this family within society and of the members within the unit family unit under scrutiny especially due the potential for traditional structures of male / female roles within the household • Family structure exists due to society’s inability to assist and maintain original family units and lack of respect for the women’s ability to maintain a home on her own • Reconstituted family represents a power shift from previous units; new grouping will have more power to act as a whole than previous two smaller groups

24. Potential Research Question(s):Feminist theories • How do women cope with the loss of power created by merging two households? • Do traditional family values impact on the woman’s power of choice in ways which force her to join a more traditional family structure?

25. Ecological Systems Theory Assumptions: Families and individuals are interlocking systems within society Focuses on behaviour in terms of impacts of society including social policy, technological change, or cultural diversity Explains complexities of individual behaviours on several levels (microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystems Combines systems theory with developmental theory Weakness: Not good at explaining individual situations

26. Explaining the case study • Analyse on the effects of various social factors on the family such as economics, education, or societal impressions of large blended families • Consider the impacts of family subsystems upon each other eg. Grandparent role in relation to child role, biological child role vs that of an adopted or step-child

27. Research questions • How does the cultural beliefs of immigrant grandparents affect the behaviours of children? • Do large families face increased stress behaviour due to increased expectations for ....educational funding? ....required or court-ordered visitation rights of non-custodial parents ?