Family: Types,Structures, and Dynamics

Rhoda M. SumagkaEunice Lee S. Tubio

What is family? is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity

(by recognized birth), affinity (by marriage), or co-residence/shared consumption (see Nurture kinship).

family is the principal institution for the socialization of children.

Sexual relations among the members are regulated by rules concerning incest such as the incest taboo.

What is Family Dynamics? are the interaction between family members as

well as the varying relationships that can exist within a family.

are affected by many factors, including the number of children or a family's culture. For example, a family with many children may have rules pertaining to which child does certain chores.

Nuclear FamilyNuclear family is a family unit that includes two married

parents of opposite genders and their biological or adopted children living in the same residence.

• Parents• Children

Nuclear Family(Structures) Parents (Father and Mother) Child/Children

Nuclear Family (Dynamics)1. The firstborn child-often very dependable, responsible,

loyal, and protective2. The second child-often take the role of rebel, clown,

entertainer, artist, troublemaker, peacemaker, or negotiator in families.

3. Some middle children-often feel unappreciated by and uninvolved with the rest of the family.

4. Only Children-often becomes the sole caretaker with no siblings to help out.

5. Late-Born Only Children -shares some of the experiences of an only child, especially if the older children have already grown up and left home.

6. Forging the Family Unit

Single Parent Family The single parent family consists of one parent

raising one or more children on his own. Single parent families are generally close and

find ways to work together to solve problems, such as dividing up household chores. When only one parent is at home, it may be a struggle to find childcare, as there is only one parent working.

Single Parent Family(Structures)

Mother/Father Child/Children

Different Types of One-Parent Families

A family headed by a divorced parent A family headed by a widowed parent A family headed by a single parent who isn't

married yet or is a single parent by choice

Special Challenges of Single Parenting

Finances and Poverty Adjustments for Widowed and Divorced Parents Single Parent Families and Stress Challenges for the Children

Single Parent Family (Dynamics)

Separated or Divorced Parents Never-Married Mothers Widowed Parents

Extended Family Extended families is simply a family unit that

extends past the nuclear family to include other relatives such as aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

• Great-grandparents• cousins

Extended Family(Structures) aunts uncles grandparents

Extended Family (Dynamics)But even when extended family members

are relatively close by, there is no escaping the fact that families do live more privately than they once did. In some cases, extended families still give each other day-to-day assistance with shopping, child care, and household tasks. More often, though, each branch of the family retains its basic independence. What does all this mean for kids? Essentially, with fewer significant adults in their lives, children become more emotionally dependent on their parents.

Childless Family The childless family is sometimes the "forgotten

family," as it does not meet the traditional standards set by society. Childless families consist of a husband and wife living and working together. Many childless families take on the responsibility of pet ownership or have extensive contact with their nieces and nephews as a substitute for having their own children.

Stepfamily Stepfamily which involves two separate families

merging into one new unit. It consists of a new husband and wife and their children from previous marriages or relationships. Stepfamilies are about as common as the nuclear family, although they tend to have more problems, such as adjustment periods and discipline issues.

Stepfamily(Structures) New wife or new husband New Extended family Children from previous marriage or relationship

Stepfamily (Dynamics) The Development of Love-the expectation that if

you love your spouse, you will, of course, love his or her children.

Yours, Mine, Ours, and Theirs - Each additional member of the family system allows for another relationship or another role with every other member in the system. There can be biological parents and grandparents, stepparents and stepgrandparents, siblings, half-siblings, and stepsiblings.

Grandparent Family Many grandparents today are raising their

grandchildren for a variety of reasons. One in fourteen children is raised by his grandparents, and the parents are not present in the child's life.

The end