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