Family Theories

An Introduction

In Family Theories, fifth edition, authors James M. White, Todd F. Martin, and Kari Adamsons provide an incisive, thorough introduction to current theories of the family that balances the diversity and richness of a broad scope of scholarly work with the conciseness needed for ease of use in a one-semester course for upper-division undergraduate and beginning graduate students.  This best-selling text has drawn upon seven major theoretical frameworks developed by key social scientists to explain variation in family life.  These frameworks include:  social exchange and choice, symbolic-interaction, family life course development, systems, conflict, feminist, and ecological.  This edition includes an eighth framework - functional theory - along with more suggestions for integrating theory to guide a research program and more applications for those going on to careers in the helping professions.

With an increased focus on classical theories to contemporary and emerging theories, this fifth edition challenges students to think about how families and family theories have changed over the last 70 years as well as where family scholarship is headed.

Updated features include:

• Brief fictional vignettes introduce each theoretical framework, concretely illustrating for students how the theory relates to very real aspects of family life.
• All chapters follow a uniform format that allows students to more easily compare and contrast theories.
• Each chapter includes a typology for analyzing and comparing the seven frameworks while providing direction for future theory development.
• Chapters end with conclusions, study questions and suggested readings