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Readings in Family Theory
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Readings in Family Theory

Edited by:

December 2004 | 400 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Readings in Family Theory is an anthology of classic and contemporary articles that provides a context for student learning by demonstrating how theory fits into the overall process of scientific research on families. The book provokes student interest in theory by providing examples of the scholarly application of family theory to compare how people use similar processes in everyday life. Using this contextual orientation, the selected readings examine nine prevalent theoretical perspectives from both family and human development sciences.

Editors Thomas R. Chibucos, Randall W. Leite, and David L. Weis offer brief descriptions of the basic concepts and historical roots of each theory along with examples of scholarship and research guided by each. The volume editors suggest that scientific progress will be enhanced to the degree that research and theory are more fully integrated into the family and human development sciences.

Key Features

  • Volume editors provide an introduction to the reader and discuss what theory is and why it is important
  • Nine theoretical perspectives are examined-family life course, life-span development, social learning, social exchange, social conflict, feminist, symbolic interactionist, family systems, and ecological
  • Chapters include a brief description of the readings, issues for consideration, and a list of additional readings for further research
  • The concluding chapter provides an overview of developments in family theory and thoughts on future directions


Readings in Family Theory
provides undergraduate and graduate students with an excellent introduction to family theory. It can be used as a stand-alone text or as a companion to any other family theory texts.


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
1. Theory: What It Is and Why It Is Important
Notable Differences Between Everyday Life and Family Research

 
Example of Theory Building and the Research Process

 
Defining Family?

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
 
2. Family Life Course Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
Involuntary celibacy: A life course analysis

Donnelly, Burgess, Anderson, Davis, & Dillard, 2001
Life course transitions, the generational stake, and grandparent-grandchild relationships

Crosnoe & Elder, 2002
 
3. Life-Span Developmental Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
The influence of context, timing, and duration of riskpassage from childhood to midadulthood experiences for the

Schoon, Bynner, Joshi, Parsons, Wiggins, & Sacker (2002)
Marital status continuity and change among young and midlife adults: Longitudinal effects on psychological well-being

Marks & Lambert, 1998
 
4. Social Learning Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
A social learning theory model of marital violence

Mihalic & Elliott, 1997
Intergenerational transmission of constructive parenting

Chen & Kaplan, 2001
 
5. Social Exchange Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
Costs and rewards of children: The effects of becoming a parent on adults' lives

Nomaguchi & Milkie, 2003
Equity and social exchange in dating couples: Associations with satisfaction, commitment, and stability

Sprecher, 2001
 
6. Social Conflict Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
A conflict theory of family violence

Witt, 1989
Status and income as gendered resources: The case of marital power

Tichenor, 1999
 
7. Feminist Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
Feminist visions for transforming families: Desire and now equality then and

Allen, 2001
Do gender roles matter? Family formulation and dissolution among traditional and egalitarian men and women

Kaufman, 2000
 
8. Symbolic Interactionism
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
The symbolic origins of conflict in divorce

Hopper, 2001
"They think you ain't much of nothing": Social construction of the welfare mother

"They think you ain't nothing": The social construction of the welfare


Seccombe & Walters, 1998
 
9. Family Systems Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
Relations between identity formation and family characteristics of adults

Mullis, Brailsford, & Mullis, 2003
Structural family therapy

Vetere, 2001
 
10. Ecological Theory
The Readings

 
Issues for Your Consideration

 
Further Reading

 
Balancing employment and fatherhood: A systems perspective

Berry & Rao, 1997
The social ecology of marriage and other intimate unions Getting dinosaurs to dance: Community collaborations of theory

Perkins, Ferrari, Covey, & Keith, 1996
 
11. Discussion and Conclusions
Overview of Developments in Family Theory

 
Thoughts on Future Directions

 
 
References
 
Index
 
About the Editors
Key features
  • This collection of readings with introductory essays is designed to be used as either a self-standing book for instructors who prefer working with original-source materials or as a companion text to core textbooks such as White and Klein's Family Theories, Second Edition (Sage 2002).
  • 19 readings are divided across 9 topical chapters covering the following theories:  family life course, life-span developmental, social learning, social exchange, social conflict, feminist, symbolic interactionist, family systems, and ecological.
  • The volume editors provide an overall introduction to the reader discussing what theory is and why it is important, and they end with a Discussion and Conclusions chapter that provides students with an overview of developments in family theory and thoughts on future directions.
  • Each of the theory chapters open with a brief discussion of the readings, issues for consideration, and lists of additional readings that instructors and students may wish to explore. 

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781412905701
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