Marriage & Family Chp 1 Vocab

See family decline, family change perspectives.

Some family scholars and policy makers characterize late-twentieth-century developments in the family as "decline," while others describe "change." Those who take the "family decline" perspective view such changes as increases in the age at first marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and nonmarital births and the decline in fertility as disastrous for the family as a major social institution. "Family change" scholars and policy makers consider that the family has varied over time. They argue that the family can adapt to recent changes and continue to play a strong role in society.

An immigrant family in which some members are citizens or legal residents of the country they migrate to, while others are undocumented—that is, they are not legal residents.

Making semiconscious or unconscious choices when one is not aware of all the possible alternatives or when one pursues the path of least resistance. From this perspective, doing nothing about a problem or issue, or making no choice, is making a choice—the choice to do nothing.

Making choices and decisions after (1) recognizing as many options or alternatives as possible, (2) recognizing the social pressures that can influence personal choices, (3) considering the consequences of each alternative, and (4) becoming aware of one's own values.

Family including relatives besides parents and children, such as aunts or uncles. See also nuclear family.

Values that focus on the family group as a whole and on maintaining family identity and cohesiveness.

Any sexually expressive or parent, child, or other kin relationship in which people live together with a commitment in an intimate interpersonal relationship. Family members see their identity as importantly attached to the group, which has an identity of its own. Families today take several forms: single-parent, remarried, dual-career, communal, homosexual, traditional, and so forth. See also extended family, nuclear family.

Ideas and feelings about the uniqueness and value of one's family unit.

All the actions, procedures, regulations, attitudes, and goals of government that affect families.

The form a family takes, such as nuclear family, extended family, single-parent family, stepfamily, and the like.

As a Census Bureau category, a household is any group of people residing together.

Values that encourage self-fulfillment, personal growth, autonomy, and independence over commitment to family or other communal needs.

A family group comprising only the wife, the husband, and their children. See also extended family.

Term used to describe the situation in which (1) families today exhibit multiple forms, and (2) new or altered family forms continue to emerge or develop.

The basic feelings people have about themselves, their characteristics and abilities, and their worth; how people think of or view themselves.

A system of patterned and predictable ways of thinking and behaving—beliefs, values, attitudes, and norms—concerning important aspects of people's lives in society. Examples of major social institutions are the family, religion, government, the economy, and education.

Economic and social forces that limit options and, hence, personal choices.

A family of immigrants or immigrant stock that maintains close ties with the sending country. Identity and behavior connect the immigrant family to the new country and the old, and their social networks cross national boundaries.