Marriage And Family Interaction

Volume numbers determined from Scope of the guidelines, p. 12-13.

This introductory textbook is for students who are interested in learning about and establishing healthy marriage, family, and intimate relationships. With divorce rates high and relationships fragile, books and courses are needed that help students address important issues regarding relationships. The readers of this text examine many important and relevant issues through the lens of theory and research and do so using a written format that is readable, understandable, and easy to apply to oneís life. It was written so that each chapter has information that readers will find helpful as they attempt to establish and maintain meaningful, healthy relationships. There are questions throughout each chapter that help readers focus not only on the material but also on how the material relates to their present and past relationship and family situations. The text provides material on the research of John Gottman, the object relations theory of Harville Hendrix, the solution- focused approach of Michele Weiner-Davis, and the PREP approach to conflict management of Markman, Stanley, and Blumberg. These and other topics discussed are very relevant to studentsí concerns and are addressed in greater depth than found in most other texts. The emphasis is not just on couple relationships but also on family relationships. Therefore, in this book there is extensive coverage of family systems theory and the influence of family rules and family structure on the development of families. There is also material on how change produces transitions in family life that must be assimilated into the family structureófor example, when a couple has their first child. Thus, both couple and family issues are addressed throughout the book. For instructors who want to focus their courses on marriage, family, and intimate relationships, this book would be an ideal choice. A study guide for students and instructional material for instructors can be obtained by visiting www.understandingrelationships.net.

Any parent who has raised more than one child is likely to be keenly aware of subtle or even striking differences among their offspring. The central premise of this volume is that children bring personal qualities to their relationships with other family members that help shape family interaction, relationships, and even processes that family researchers have called "parenting." The chapters address how children's personal qualities make their mark on families in ways that may in turn influence children's subsequent development. The volume is based on the presentations and discussions from a national symposium on "Children's influence on family dynamics: The neglected side of family relationships" held at the Pennsylvania State University, as the ninth in a series of annual interdisciplinary symposia focused on family issues. It is divided into four parts, each dealing with a different aspect of the topic. Part I sets the stage by focusing on the features of children that make a difference, as well as the kinds of research designs that are likely to shed light on the role of child influences. Part II focuses on early childhood, particularly the role of infant temperament and other individual differences in very young children in shaping their parents' behaviors, reactions in turn that feedback and influence the developing child. Part III focuses on adolescence, a time when young people are able to exert more choice in how they spend their time and who they spend it with. Part IV pulls the themes of the volume together and points the way for future research.

"Explaining Family Interactions represents a unique collection that may stand alone or complement a traditional textbook. The contents reflect the ever-changing nature of families and the role communication plays in creating and maintaining family relationships. The collection captures the wide universe of family experience as represented in fine scholarship." --Kathleen M. Galvin, Northwestern University What relationship exists between family structure and communication? How do communication patterns between family members change over time? What role does culture play in family communication? In this groundbreaking volume, a stellar team of contributors answers these and other significant questions by offering a detailed review of current research and state-of-the-art ideas concerning both communication processes and family functioning. Contributors explore a rich tapestry of topics, including family conflict, courtship and dating relationships, postdivorce relations, communication and family culture, and dual-career families, to name but a few. And, while contributors each explore different aspects of family communication, all address similar questions and incorporate a range of methodological and/or theoretical positions. Explaining Family Interactions is an ideal resource for all scholars and students in the fields of interpersonal communication, family studies, relationships, family sociology, and social psychology.

This book contains revised versions of the papers presented at a conference sponsored by the Division of Individual and Family Studies in the College of Human Development at the Pennsylvania State University in April, 1977.

The third edition of Handbook of Marriage and the Family describes, analyzes, synthesizes, and critiques the current research and theory about family relationships, family structural variations, and the role of families in society. This updated Handbook provides the most comprehensive state-of-the art assessment of the existing knowledge of family life, with particular attention to variations due to gender, socioeconomic, race, ethnic, cultural, and life-style diversity. The Handbook also aims to provide the best synthesis of our existing scholarship on families that will be a primary source for scholars and professionals but also serve as the primary graduate text for graduate courses on family relationships and the roles of families in society. In addition, the involvement of chapter authors from a variety of fields including family psychology, family sociology, child development, family studies, public health, and family therapy, gives the Handbook a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary framework.