Explain the meanings of family.

Explanation should include

  • definitions of family
  • a definition of fictive family
  • the role of the family in society
  • a historical perspective on families
  • a sociological perspective on families (e.g., trends affecting families, family patterns, demographics)
  • the influence of cultural and generational values on individuals and families (e.g., cultural traditions).

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

  • How are various types of families alike and different?
  • What factors influence attitudes and beliefs about the family?
  • What is the role of the family in society?
  • What ideas justify the significance of the fictive family?
  • How have families changed throughout history?
  • How do the actions of one family member affect others?
  • What positive and negative results might occur if people with conflicting cultures, traditions, values, and goals form a family?

Communication

  • What is the role of communication in keeping the family together?
  • How could the function of communication improve the dynamics of the family?
  • How could parents adapt communication to improve parental partnership?

Leadership

  • How can leaders improve the quality of life for children?
  • What leadership skills can foster altruism in the family?
  • How would a caregiver prioritize or generate a plan to assist a family member to increase the longevity of their life path?
  • How can career goals affect family formation?

Management

  • What are some of the social, cultural, financial, political, and environmental factors that affect families?
  • What resources are effective in helping families spend more time together?
  • What management skills would be helpful for families seeking to meet specific needs of family members?
  • How could you determine a family’s need for special family services?