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Summary
The family is the most important
social unit in cultures throughout the world.
Each person fulfi lls various inherited and
assigned roles as a family member. The
family provides the functions of procreation,
physical care, socialization, and emotional
support for its members.
Families take the form of different
family structures. A nuclear family includes
a husband, wife, and their children. A
single-parent family has one parent and
one or more children. A stepfamily contains
stepparents and stepchildren. Extended
family includes relatives such as an aunt or
a grandmother. A childless family consists
of a couple without children. Single people
do not live in any of these family structures.
They must meet their needs for the
functions provided by a family in other ways.
Various outside forces may affect the
roles and responsibilities of family members.
Culture, society, and technology are strong
infl uences. Some demographic factors that
affect families include more women working
outside the home, the longer lives of older
family members, and more families moving
more often. Economic forces and world
events can also affect families.
Throughout their lives, the structures
of families change. Some of these changes
occur as a family goes through the stages
of the family life cycle. Other changes in
family structure are the result of divorce or
remarriage.
1. Draw conclusions. Which of the
family structures discussed in this
chapter do you feel is best equipped
to provide the functions of the family?
Explain your answer.
2. Analyze decisions. If you were going
to choose a family-related career,
which one would you choose? Why?
3. Form a hypothesis. Which stage in
the family life cycle do you think would
be the most exciting stage for parents?
Explain your answer.
4. Analyze effects. List two
consequences a divorce would have
for each of the following: a husband, a
wife, and children.
5. Predict outcomes. Write a story about
a family in the year 2030. Describe
how roles of family members and
functions provided by the family might
change in the future.
6. Social studies. Do research to
see how families in other countries
and cultures perform the function of
socialization. How do they differ from
American families?
7. Research. Research the emphasis on
family in different cultures. Compare
and contrast two cultures.
8. Writing. Research the current trends
regarding the launching stage.
Statistically, how many “launched”
children return home to live with their
parents again? Write a report including
references on your fi ndings.
9. Speech. Research the current
statistics on divorce and remarriage.
Share your fi ndings in an oral report.
10. Social studies. Discuss how the
family unit has remained a constant in
the evolution of the human race.
11. Internet research. Use the Internet
to research statistics on single adults.
What percentage of the population
stays single today as compared to 50
years ago? a hundred years ago? Why
do you think this is the case?
12. Compile data. Use the Internet to
fi nd statistics on the percentage of
women working away from home. Find
statistics from the last 50 years, then
use graphing software to make a graph
illustrating the trend.
13. Investigate new technologies.
Develop a list of new technologies
that infl uence families. For each item
on your list, identify the positive and
negative infl uences on families.
As a part of working on the Family Ties
unit of the Power of One program, set goals
for increasing your role in providing some
of the functions of the family for family
members. After carrying out a plan of
action to achieve those goals, write a two-
page report explaining how this project has
made a difference in your life.
Perform volunteer work with a family
service organization in your community.
Possible organizations might include
Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Habitat for
Humanity, homeless shelters, and food
banks. Document your experience for your
portfolio, including:
•
name and description of the
organization
•
dates of your participation
•
description of what you did
•
any photos showing your participation
Your family believes your older sister
has been successfully launched. She has
chosen a career, achieved the required
education, completed training, and
accepted a job within driving distance of
her apartment. To your parents’ surprise,
she announces that she will be moving
back home with them…and you.
Write About It: How will this affect you?
What rules and expectations might apply to
your sister that do not apply to you? Which
rules and expectations might apply to you
that do not apply to your sister?
Prepare your response using the Journal
Writing guide at the website.
ompanion
Website
www.g-wlearning.com
Chapter 6 Review
Introduction V
Reading
Review
1. Explain how heredity and environment affect growth.
2. What are the fi ve types of growth? Give an example of each.
3. Explain how growth and development occur in sequential steps.
4. How would Bandura explain why two people respond to the same
experiences differently? What is his theory called?
5. According to Piaget’s cognitive theory, why do young children think
differently from the way teens do?
6. Vygotsky believed that a child’s learning is infl uenced by the people
who interact with the child. Give an example of this type of learning.
Reading Review
Questions at the end of each section
check your reading comprehension.
Critical Thinking
Questions challenge you to use
critical thinking and higher-level
thinking skills when reviewing
chapter concepts.
Applying Technology
Activities and projects are
completed through the use
of technology.
Portfolio Builder
Projects guide you in developing
a portfolio of your work throughout
this course. Learning the basics
of portfolio development now will
help you compile an employment
portfolio in the future.
Academic Connections
Chapter content links to
academic subjects, such
as history, math, reading,
science, and social studies.
FCCLA Activity
Activities encourage your participation
in a career and technical student
organization. Each activity enhances
classroom learning and emphasizes
family and consumer sciences concepts.
Journal Writing
Real-life scenarios help you
apply concepts. Refl ection
questions about the scenarios
guide journaling.
Activities Enhance and
Extend Learning