Exploring Family Theories

Suzanne R. Smith is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia Southwestern State University. Raeann R. Hamon is Distinguished Professor of Family Science and Gerontology and Chair of the Human Development and Family Science Department at Messiah University.

Introduction
What is Theory?
Family Theory
Text Organization

1. Symbolic Interactionism
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
A Grounded Theory of Becoming a First-Time Father due to a High-Risk Pregnancy, by Tanasirjiranont, R., Kantaraksa, K., Sansiriphan, N., & Jordan, P.L.

2. Family Development Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Emotional Intelligence and Marital Communication Among Married Couples at Different Stages of Marriage, by Zmaczynska-Witek, B., Komborska, M., & Rogowska, A.

3. Family Stress Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Finances, Religion, and the FAAR Model: How Religion Exacerbates and Alleviates Financial Stress, by LeBaron, A. B., Kelley, H. H., Hill, E. J., & Galbraith, Q.

4. Family Systems Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Circumplex Model of Family Functioning in Turkish Culture: Western family systems model in a Eurasian country, by Turkdogan, T., Duru, E., & Balkis, M.

5. Ecological Systems Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Applying the Ecological Systems Theory to Better Understand and Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, by Martinello, E.

6. Conflict Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Parents' and children's power effectiveness during polyadic family conflict: Process and outcome, by Porta, S.D., Howe, N., & Persram, R.J.

7. Social Exchange Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Together despite the odds: Explaining racial and ethnic heterogeneity in union dissolution after incarceration, by Widdowson, A. O., Jacobson, W.C., Winnick, S.E., & Warren, P.Y.

8. Attachment Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Maternal and Paternal Attachment Style and Chaos as Risk Factors for Parenting Behavior, by Zaro, B., J., Lathren, C., Mills-Koonce, R.

9. Feminist Family Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Chinese Immigrant Mothers Negotiating Family and Career: Intersectionality and the Role of Social Support, by Wing, V., Leung, Y., Zhu, Y., Peng, H., & Tsang, A.K.T.

10. Biosocial Theory
History
Basic Assumptions
Primary Terms and Concepts
Career Application
Common Areas of Research and Application
Critique
Application
SAMPLE READING
Do birds of a playful feather flock together? Playfulness and assertive mating by Chick, G., Proyer, R., Purrington, A., & Yarnel, C.

Epilogue
Index