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HHS4MHHS4M
Theoretical Theoretical Perspectives for Perspectives for
Studying Studying Individuals & Individuals &
FamiliesFamilies
Learning GoalsLearning Goals
By the end of this lesson you will By the end of this lesson you will understand eight theoretical understand eight theoretical perspectives.perspectives.
You will be able to compare the You will be able to compare the theories to each other.theories to each other.
You will be able to evaluate the You will be able to evaluate the usefulness of each theory.usefulness of each theory.
TheoriesTheories
When scientists explain their When scientists explain their observations, their answers reflect observations, their answers reflect their theoriestheir theories
Some theories have been used to Some theories have been used to explain human behaviour for many explain human behaviour for many yearsyears
Other theories have been revised and Other theories have been revised and replacedreplaced
Theories are NOT FACTS, just attempts Theories are NOT FACTS, just attempts to explain evidenceto explain evidence
MICRO vs MACRO MICRO vs MACRO PerspectivesPerspectives
MACRO theories study the interaction MACRO theories study the interaction between society and institutions such between society and institutions such as the law, family, politics, etc.as the law, family, politics, etc.
MICRO theories emphasize the MICRO theories emphasize the relationships within individual relationships within individual familiesfamilies
Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives FunctionalismFunctionalism
Systems TheorySystems Theory
Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism
Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory
Developmental TheoriesDevelopmental Theories
Conflict TheoryConflict Theory
Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory
Ecological Perspectives TheoryEcological Perspectives Theory
Structural FunctionalismStructural Functionalism MACRO ApproachMACRO Approach Attempts to explain how society is Attempts to explain how society is
organized to perform required functionsorganized to perform required functions Focuses on how institutions, such as the Focuses on how institutions, such as the
law, political system, and the family law, political system, and the family functionfunction
Assumes societies are stable when Assumes societies are stable when structures function to benefit societystructures function to benefit society
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE-8QuBDkkw8QuBDkkw
Structural FunctionalismStructural Functionalism Examine the ROLES individuals play to contribute Examine the ROLES individuals play to contribute
to the bigger pictureto the bigger picture– Status = a specific position within a social groupStatus = a specific position within a social group– Role = the set of behaviours an individual is Role = the set of behaviours an individual is
expected to demonstrate within a statusexpected to demonstrate within a status– Norm = most prevalent behaviours in that roleNorm = most prevalent behaviours in that role
Example: An individual with a “father” status is Example: An individual with a “father” status is expected to take on behaviours such as working, expected to take on behaviours such as working, child care and providing to fulfill his role. It is the child care and providing to fulfill his role. It is the norm for a father to work outside the household.norm for a father to work outside the household.
Structural FunctionalismStructural Functionalism
Strengths of Approach:Strengths of Approach:– Explains how family interacts with societyExplains how family interacts with society– Emphasizes family strengths rather than Emphasizes family strengths rather than
weaknessesweaknesses • • Weaknesses/Criticisms of Approach:Weaknesses/Criticisms of Approach: -Does not explain why societies or families change-Does not explain why societies or families change -Change and individual differences are seen as -Change and individual differences are seen as
disruptionsdisruptions -Only one acceptable form of family rather than -Only one acceptable form of family rather than
many variationsmany variations -Doesn’t deal with interpersonal relationships-Doesn’t deal with interpersonal relationships
Systems TheorySystems Theory
MICRO AND MACROMICRO AND MACRO Attempts to explain how groups of Attempts to explain how groups of
individuals interact as a system and individuals interact as a system and influence each otherinfluence each other
A system is a set of interrelated partsA system is a set of interrelated parts Family systems have a complex Family systems have a complex
organizationorganization Individuals within the system influence Individuals within the system influence
each other in a reciprocal wayeach other in a reciprocal way
Systems TheorySystems Theory
The family system changes when a The family system changes when a change in one person’s behaviour change in one person’s behaviour causes the behaviour of another to causes the behaviour of another to evolveevolve
The larger family system contains The larger family system contains subsystems (father-child, mother-subsystems (father-child, mother-father) father)
A genogram diagram depicts the A genogram diagram depicts the relationships within a family systemrelationships within a family system
GenograGenogrammBelow is a genorgram of disaese patterns Below is a genorgram of disaese patterns
within a family within a family
Systems TheorySystems Theory Advantages: Advantages:
– Explains the behaviour of individuals as Explains the behaviour of individuals as inseparable from the groupinseparable from the group
– Explains why behaviour continues in destructive Explains why behaviour continues in destructive patterns even through generations patterns even through generations
Disadvantages: Disadvantages: – Can be difficult to determine how others within Can be difficult to determine how others within
the family are influencing an individuals the family are influencing an individuals behaviourbehaviour
– Overlooks experience of individualsOverlooks experience of individuals– Social/Structural factors, such as unemployment Social/Structural factors, such as unemployment
are not taken into considerationare not taken into consideration
Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism
MICRO ApproachMICRO Approach A psychological theory that attempts to A psychological theory that attempts to
explain how individual choose how they explain how individual choose how they will act based on their will act based on their perceptionsperceptions of of themselves and of othersthemselves and of others
People define and interpret their People define and interpret their experiences and give meaning to themexperiences and give meaning to them
Couples Retreat:Couples Retreat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0TmugJo-c9Y&feature=relatedv=0TmugJo-c9Y&feature=related
Symbolic Interactionism Symbolic Interactionism
““Me” =objective qualities (tall, male, Me” =objective qualities (tall, male, student)student)
““I” = subjective self (good student, I” = subjective self (good student, shy, lonely)shy, lonely)
Role taking = being able to anticipate Role taking = being able to anticipate how other’s will respondhow other’s will respond
Communication requires common Communication requires common language and use of shared symbolslanguage and use of shared symbols
Cooley’s Looking Glass SelfCooley’s Looking Glass Self
““I am not what I think I am. I am I am not what I think I am. I am not what you think I am. I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am”what I think you think I am”
Symbolic Interactionism Symbolic Interactionism AdvantagesAdvantages
– Emphasizes mental processes and takes individual Emphasizes mental processes and takes individual perception and interpretations into considerationperception and interpretations into consideration
– Sense of individual controlSense of individual control– Explains importance of shared symbols and Explains importance of shared symbols and
communicationcommunication DisadvantagesDisadvantages
– Observations of researchers may be influenced by Observations of researchers may be influenced by the researchers interpretationsthe researchers interpretations
– Pays little attention to the impact of wider society Pays little attention to the impact of wider society and does not explain society-wide changes in and does not explain society-wide changes in familiesfamilies
Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory MICRO approachMICRO approach A psychological theory that attempts A psychological theory that attempts
to explain the social factors that to explain the social factors that influence reciprocal relationshipsinfluence reciprocal relationships
People act to maximize the benefits People act to maximize the benefits and minimize costs to themselvesand minimize costs to themselves
Individuals interpret their Individuals interpret their experiences in terms of costs vs. experiences in terms of costs vs. benefitsbenefits
Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory
Relationships are stable when the Relationships are stable when the benefits that each person receives benefits that each person receives balance the costs of the relationshipsbalance the costs of the relationships
This theory is used to explain how This theory is used to explain how individuals make decisions to form individuals make decisions to form and maintain relationships that may and maintain relationships that may be seen as unacceptable to othersbe seen as unacceptable to others
Social Exchange TheoriesSocial Exchange Theories
WeaknessesWeaknesses
-A limitation of this theory is that some -A limitation of this theory is that some people are offended by the people are offended by the cost/benefit analysiscost/benefit analysis
-Attempts to explain individual -Attempts to explain individual behaviour and needs and pays less behaviour and needs and pays less attention to family dynamicsattention to family dynamics
Developmental Developmental TheoriesTheories
An interdisciplinary MICRO approach An interdisciplinary MICRO approach to describe patterns to explain growth to describe patterns to explain growth and change throughout the human life and change throughout the human life cyclecycle– Developmental Tasks = role expectations Developmental Tasks = role expectations
that challenge people to developthat challenge people to develop– Erik Erikson – people develop individual Erik Erikson – people develop individual
identities separate from their parents to identities separate from their parents to make the transition to adulthoodmake the transition to adulthood
Developmental TheoriesDevelopmental Theories
Examine biological, psychological, social Examine biological, psychological, social and cultural factors that influence and cultural factors that influence developmentdevelopment
Different factors at different agesDifferent factors at different ages Outline predictable stages marked by Outline predictable stages marked by
normative events normative events At each stage there are developmental At each stage there are developmental
prerequisitesprerequisites One must complete on developmental task One must complete on developmental task
to move onto the nextto move onto the next
Developmental TheoriesDevelopmental Theories
DisadvantagesDisadvantages– Not all stages will fit all families or Not all stages will fit all families or
individualsindividuals– Some families will experience non-Some families will experience non-
normative events such as death of a normative events such as death of a child, etcchild, etc
– Stages make the theory restrictive Stages make the theory restrictive because they do not always occur in because they do not always occur in order, or occur at allorder, or occur at all
Conflict TheoryConflict Theory
A MACRO interdisciplinary A MACRO interdisciplinary sociological and political theorysociological and political theory
Explains how power (Explains how power (ability to control ability to control the behaviour of another) the behaviour of another) holds a holds a society togethersociety together
Conflict exists because of inequalitiesConflict exists because of inequalities Groups compete with each other to Groups compete with each other to
meet their needsmeet their needs
Conflict TheoryConflict Theory
Describes the relationship of men and Describes the relationship of men and women within a family as one of women within a family as one of exploitation and oppression, and is exploitation and oppression, and is used for analyzing power and used for analyzing power and authority within the familyauthority within the family
Developed in the 19Developed in the 19thth century when century when there were large social inequalities in there were large social inequalities in societysociety
Disadvantage Disadvantage – Negative approachNegative approach
Feminist TheoriesFeminist Theories
A branch of conflict theoriesA branch of conflict theories Developed in the second half of the Developed in the second half of the
2020thth century to explain the impact of century to explain the impact of sex and gender on behavioursex and gender on behaviour
Considers issues from the point of Considers issues from the point of view of womenview of women
Feminist TheoriesFeminist Theories
ArArgue that change is required so that gue that change is required so that the needs of all people are metthe needs of all people are met
Attempts Attempts to explain social inequalities to explain social inequalities between men and women from a between men and women from a variety of female perpectivesvariety of female perpectives
Socialist feminism is based on the Socialist feminism is based on the assumption that the status of women is assumption that the status of women is a social inequality rooted in the sexual a social inequality rooted in the sexual division of paid vs. unpaid labourdivision of paid vs. unpaid labour
Ecological PerspectiveEcological Perspective A modern psychological theory that looks at A modern psychological theory that looks at
indivindividuals & families as interlocking systems iduals & families as interlocking systems within society that influence each otherwithin society that influence each other
Combines aspects of systems theory & Combines aspects of systems theory & developmental theoriesdevelopmental theories
Advantages:Advantages:-Explains diversity of developmental behaviour tha -Explains diversity of developmental behaviour tha
can’t be explained by develpmental theory alonecan’t be explained by develpmental theory alone-Recognizes the influence of others in relationships, -Recognizes the influence of others in relationships,
but extends to influences outside familybut extends to influences outside familyDisadvantages:Disadvantages:-Less useful for investigating individual situations-Less useful for investigating individual situations
Ecological PerspectiveEcological Perspective
Individuals & Familes are influenced on 4 Individuals & Familes are influenced on 4 levels: (1) Microsystem: An individual levels: (1) Microsystem: An individual develops behaviour to meet own needsdevelops behaviour to meet own needs
((2) Mesosystem: Small groups to which 2) Mesosystem: Small groups to which individual belongs socials indviduals in individual belongs socials indviduals in ways influenced by societyways influenced by society
(3) Exosystem: Socio-economic (3) Exosystem: Socio-economic environment sets expectations and environment sets expectations and influences resources availableinfluences resources available
(4) Macrosystem: Society in which person (4) Macrosystem: Society in which person lives influences behaviourlives influences behaviour