2024-2025 S.1 Citizenship, Economics and Society Learning Guide (Module 1.2 Topic 1) PDF

## 2024-2025 S.1 Citizenship, Economics and Society Learning Guide (Module 1.2 Topic 1) ### 2.1 Common causes of family conflicts (Refer to your textbook M1.2 P.5-7) | Causes | Explanation | |---|---| | Communication failure | Miscommunication/one-way communication/improper attitudes: * when the r...

## 2024-2025 S.1 Citizenship, Economics and Society Learning Guide (Module 1.2 Topic 1) ### 2.1 Common causes of family conflicts (Refer to your textbook M1.2 P.5-7) | Causes | Explanation | |---|---| | Communication failure | Miscommunication/one-way communication/improper attitudes: * when the receiver does not understand the message conveyed by the sender correctly * when the speaker dominates while the receiver ignores or refuses to respond * When family members have disagreement and they fail to manage their emotion properly, e.g. speak in a hostile tone, use rude words and may even physically insult others * Misunderstanding occurs/communication breaks down/family relationship turns worse * Conflicts | | Different expectations | Difference in expectations between parents and children: * The older members may expect the young ones to obey them, e.g. taking up certain responsibilities. However, the young ones may think they are independent and therefore do not obey the older members. * They fail to come up with the same expectations. * Conflicts | | Differences in beliefs and values | Difference in beliefs/values among family members about the same issue: * Family members of different ages and experiences may have different values about the same thing e.g. subject choice. The young may prefer to study something of their interest while the parents may make recommendations based on their previous experience and future career development. * They fail to compromise through effective communication. * Conflicts | | Changes in internal or external conditions | When the family conditions change and adjustment from family members is needed: * Changes in internal conditions: Having a new family member (new baby, an elderly relative) → Family members may need to adjust their routines, roles, and responsibilities to accommodate the needs of the new member → incompatible → conflicts * Changes in external conditions: encountering a financial crisis (e.g. job loss) → changes involving budget cuts, lifestyle changes → stress and uncertainty → conflicts | ### 2.2 Impacts of family conflicts Family conflicts are sometimes unavoidable, but it is not necessarily bad. | Possible Impacts | |---|---| | Positive Impacts | Family conflicts may lead to short-term impacts such as emotional distress, communication breakdowns, and feelings of alienation among family members. Prolonged family conflicts that last for a long time will destroy harmonious family relationships, leading to resentment, insecurity, and a lack of trust, hindering personal growth and mental well-being in the long run. If family conflicts are handled properly and effectively, it can enhance self-awareness, improve understanding among family members, develop conflict-resolution skills, facilitate mutual communication, and strengthen familial bonds in the long run. | | Negative Impacts | | ### Part 3: Solutions to Family Conflicts (Refer to textbook M1.2 P.7-8) Enquiry question: How can we resolve family conflicts effectively? Effective means something that produces the desired outcome (positive) and brings about long-term impacts. Watch the video Let's Eat (https://youtu.be/0MXfJAhmEE) and answer the following questions. 1. How can the daughter better convey her messages to avoid having conflicts with her mother? 2. Why is it important to do the above? | Solutions | Explanation | Which cause(s) of conflicts does it tackle? | |---|---|---| | Adopt two-way communication | Adopts two-way communication (i.e. opinions and feelings of both parties are expressed and listened to) so both parties would have the opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings and others would listen attentively and respond with empathy. All parties should convey their messages accurately to avoid misunderstanding. | Communication failure, different expectations, differences in beliefand value | | Enhance mutual understanding | Family members should be fully aware of their roles and develop a consensus of their corresponding responsibilities. All members should be ready to support each other and make contributions to the family. *Empathy means that one is able to recognize others' emotions and ideas, understand their stances and feelings, and consider and deal with problems from others' views. Family members should show empathy and put ourselves in one another's positions, listen and understand one another's needs and feelings carefully, and be considerate.* | different expectations, differences in belief and value | | Show empathy | | different expectation, differences in belief and value, changes in internal and external | | Seek help from others | When all parties involved fail to resolve conflicts on their own, they should seek help from a third party, e.g. a senior family member or a professional, for advice. | communication, different, difference, change | ### Reflection Refer to Activity 2.1 on P.4, complete the table below with what you have just learnt on p.5 about common causes of family conflicts and effective ways to resolve them. | Activity | What causes the family conflicts? | How would you resolve the conflicts effectively? | |---|---|---| | (i) | | | | (ii) | | | ### Part 4: Enhancing Family cohesion Family is important to us. Therefore, establishing a cohesive family can create a happy life for each member. (Refer to textbook M1.2 P.11) | Methods to enhance family cohesion | Explanation | |---|---| | Caring and loving each other | Parents should pay attention to their child's daily life and children should also actively communicate with their parents. | | Respecting and appreciating each other | We should express our ideas with rationality and respect, and consider each other's situation, rather than only venting our dissatisfaction. Also, we should appreciate the sacrifices and contributions made by family members for the family. | | Sharing housework | We should actively contribute and serve the family so that we can lighten burden of our parent. | ### Exercise Refer to the cartoon and answer the questions. Clean up your room now! Can you hear me? [Image] Why is my mum so annoying? Tom's mum Bad and improper attitude one party talks son is unwilling to communicate mum is unsatisfied with son's attitude → conflict arises Tom & think it's his responsibility son doesn't do what his mum asks him to do →conflict Tom (a) Identify and explain TWO causes of family conflict shown in the cartoon. Communication failure and different expectations may lead to family conflicts in the cartoon. According to the source "why is my mum so annoying?" shows that Tom is ignoring his mum. Ignoring his mum may lead to communication breaking down. According to the source "Cleanup your room now!" shows that Tom's mum expects Tom to clean his room. However, Tom decided to ignore her and listen to music. Tom's unwillingness made her angry. This results in family conflicts. **Answering Tips** How can we answer questions about causes of family conflicts? 1) Find out the causes by looking for clues in the cartoon. facial expression, think, speech * Pay attention to their facial expressions and actions. (e.g. What emotions are the characters experiencing? What are the characters doing and not doing?) * Pay attention to the speech bubbles. (e.g. What did the character say to the other person? How is his/her tone like?) * Note the contents of his/her imagination in the bubble. (e.g. What did the character imagine he/she will say? Why did the character not say it?) 2) Quote relevant evidence from the source. 3) Link to the common causes of family conflicts. (WS P.5) 4) Explain how this cause may lead to family conflicts. **Example:** Different expectations towards responsibilities may have led to the family conflict in the cartoon. According to the source, “Pick up your toys!” shows that the mother expects her daughter to be responsible for picking up her toys. However, the daughter is not willing to do so, as shown by her grumpy face in the cartoon. The daughter's unwillingness to take up such responsibility has made her mother angry. This has led to conflict in the cartoon. (b) Suggest ONE possible and effective way to resolve the family conflict shown in the cartoon. Explain your answer. I suggest that the son listen to his mum and clean up his room. Then he should stand in her perspective and understand what the mother's expectation for the son is and that it is for his good. This takes *on* (son). **Answering Tips** How can we answer questions about ways to effectively resolve family conflicts? 1) Suggest a relevant and reasonable way. You can refer to Part 3. 2) Explain how the way suggested can effectively help resolve the family conflict. (Effective means something that produces the desired outcome and brings about the long-term positive impacts.) Example: I suggest that the mother adopts two-way communication to establish consensus For example, if the daughter does not know it is her responsibility, the mother can effectively educate the daughter that it is her responsibility and the mother would provide help and guidance. The two-way communicate tackles the root cause of the daughter being unclear of her own responsibility. show empathy → respond with empathy to understand other's positions, thoughts and feelings and express his feelings calmly and properly -) his responsibility enhance mutual understanding of →Mum should let him know it's his responsibilities ### Part 1: The Importance of Family in Life Enquiry question: How and why is family important to us? Family refers to a unit comprising two or more people whose relationships are formed as a result of bloodline, marriage or adoption. They live together to carry out production and raise children. In childhood, our primary interpersonal relationships are with our family members, upon whom we heavily rely. As we enter adolescence and beyond, we increasingly seek emotional support from different interpersonal relationships outside of our families. Rather than confiding our feelings to our parents, we may turn to our friends. Given these changes, it is important for us to learn different ways to maintain our relationships with our family members. #### 1.1 Roles and responsibilities of family members **Activity 1.1** What are the responsibilities of different roles in a family? Write down the corresponding numbers representing the different responsibilities in the respective boxes for each role in a family. | MORE THAN ONE ROLE | Roles | | |---|---|---| | | As parents | * | | | As grandparents | * | | | As siblings | * | | | As children | * | | | Responsibilities | | |---|---|---| | 1. | Do housework | 7. | Earn a living | | 2. | Organize family activities | 8. | Take care of family members | | 3. | Give opinions | 9. | Care for family members | | 4. | Focus on studies | 10. | Discipline children | | 5. | Nurture children | 11. | Take care of younger siblings | | 6. | Be filial to parents | * | * | | * | As siblings | * | As parents/children | | * | * | As grandparents | Can you come up with: (1) Other roles in a family and (2) explain their responsibilities. Family is composed of different members. Their roles and responsibilities are also different. Rights and responsibilities are reciprocal. When a person enjoys a particular right, he/she bears the corresponding responsibility. When members are fully aware of their family roles and are willing to take on related responsibilities, a harmonious family relationship can be maintained. ### 1.2 Functions of family Family functions refer to the purposes of a family's existence and its impact on other family members. The forms and size of families may change over time but family functions are essential for maintaining the existence of a family. Family gatherings, for example, bring family members together to share life experiences, enhancing and maintaining family relationships. (Please also refer to textbook M1.2 P.4) * **Economic function:** Family provides its members with daily needs (e.g. food, clothing, housing and transportation). * **Emotional function:** Family members take care of, respect, and support each other so that they feel cared for, accepted, a sense of belonging and a sense of security. feel loved * **Entertainment function:** Family members participate in activities together, share happenings in life, which will bring joy to one another and enhance relationships. trips (movie, dinner) physical * **Protection function:** Family provides protection and care for one another to prevent them from getting hurt. The elders will also be responsible for mediation and coordination to maintain the stability of the entire family and even the clan. * **Social function:** Parents will bring children to ritual activities like marriage, ancestoral worship, guide children to understand social traditions, norms, customs, etiquette and other knowledge, establish their own identity and status, and gradually meeting social expectations and requirements. ### Reflection According to Activities 1.1, 1.2 and your personal experience, answer the following questions: 1. How important is family to you? Give examples to explain. 2. Identify one of your roles in your family, * Role: * describe what rights you enjoy; and * describe what responsibilities you need to fulfil in your family. ### Part 2: The Causes of Family Conflicts Enquiry question: What are the common causes of family conflicts? A family is a place where family members live together. Since each family member has unique personalities and thoughts, and has different preferences, habits, values, and needs, it is easy to run into conflicts with one another. This is especially true for adolescents who are undergoing significant physical, emotional, and social changes. #### Activity 2.1 The cartoons below depict a conflict between (i) parents and their child, and (ii) two sisters respectively. Complete the callout bubbles to bring out possible causes of conflicts in each case. * (i) [IMAGE] * What is the cause of conflict? Other causes? * (ii) [IMAGE] * What is the cause of conflict? Other causes? ### Reflection: Have your encountered similar situations before? If so, how did you feel and what did you do to resolve the conflicts?