Second Half of Family Development PDF

Second Half: Family Development Lecture 7: Adulthood → Oct 31 Adulthood - Approximate age range: Begins in the 3rd decade of life, typically the 20s. Intellectual Functioning - Crystalized Intelligence: Represents accumulated, concrete knowledge, which increases with age. - Flu...

Second Half: Family Development Lecture 7: Adulthood → Oct 31 Adulthood - Approximate age range: Begins in the 3rd decade of life, typically the 20s. Intellectual Functioning - Crystalized Intelligence: Represents accumulated, concrete knowledge, which increases with age. - Fluid Abilities: Involve creativity and flexible thinking, particularly in novel situations, which increase between ages 20-30, then stabilize. Major Tasks and Concerns in Adulthood - Identity - Social Roles: Central in adult life, involving the concept of "multiple selves." Contemporary Views on Identity & the Self - Higgins' Theory: Focuses on the "Empirical Self," which is based on observable aspects of the self. - Two dimensions - Discrepancies: - Actual/Ideal Discrepancy: Failing to live up to aspirations can result in a loss of desired outcomes. - Actual/Ought Discrepancy: Failing to meet duties or obligations leads to the presence of undesired outcomes (sanctions). Identity and Personality - Cultural Perspectives on the Self: - Independent Self: Emphasizes autonomy and uniqueness, independent of others. - Interdependent Self: Focused on one's identity within specific relationships, where behavior is influenced by the perceived thoughts and feelings of close others. - Cultural Priming (Trafimow, 1991): - Task: "How are you different from your family and friends?" followed by the Twenty Statements Test (list of 10 "I am" statements). - Task: "What do you have in common with your family and friends?" followed by the Twenty Statements Test (list of 10 "I am" statements). Role Strain Occurs when fulfilling multiple role demands becomes challenging, often affecting women more due to the "second shift" (see text p. 236-7). Social Identity and Conflicting Standards Dilemma - Social Identity: The perception of belonging to a social category (e.g., gender, ethnicity) with a personal significance attached. - Conflicting Standards Dilemma: May explain sex differences in psychological outcomes (e.g., higher depression rates among women, per Smith et al., 2020). Personality: Stability vs. Change - Some theorists argue that personality is relatively stable in adulthood, though certain traits (e.g., openness to experience) decline with age. - Midlife Crisis: An emotional crisis of identity and self-confidence that may occur in middle age (text p. 230). Intellectual Abilities and Aging - Positive Developments: - Positive affect increases, while negative affect and neuroticism decrease with age. - Self-esteem generally rises through young and middle adulthood, peaking around age 60. - Challenges: - Mild decline in processing speed and short-term memory, though no functional declines (e.g., Dixon et al., 2001) (text p. 229). Research Proposal Assignment - Something that hasn't been done - Status of a literature in a particular area, build and/or extend the knowledge that already exists in that area - Must be relevant to human development in the context of family studies - Due Date: November 18th Lecture 8 – Middle and Late Adulthood → Nov 7 Middle and Late Adulthood - Middle Adulthood: ~40-60 years old - Late Adulthood: 65+ years old Quote by C.G. Jung: - "The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego, the second half is going inward and letting go of it." Key Concepts: - Individuation (C.G. Jung): The major developmental task in the second half of life, focusing on inner growth and self-acceptance. - Goal of the second half of life: Personal growth, introspection, and letting go of ego. Mid-Life Crisis Revisited - Often associated with major stressful life experiences. Cognitive Changes - Some cognitive decline in late adulthood - Explicit memory: Recalling facts may decline - Working memory: Can maintain function with accommodations, no significant impairment Social and Emotional Stressors in Middle & Late Adulthood 1. Loss of Spouse or Significant Others - Grief and bereavement processes 2. Retirement ○ Adaptations required: - Financial considerations - Timing and planning for retirement ○ Influencing factors: - Economic security - Marital/partnership status - Family presence (children, grandchildren, surviving siblings/parents) Psychological Considerations in Grief - Figure 12.1: Definitions related to loss (De Vries, 2012) - Grief as a disorder? - DSM-5-TR: Reclassifies prolonged grief under "Prolonged Grief Disorder" - Distinction from Major Depressive Disorder - Successful Aging (Reference: Text p. 254) - Is successful aging achievable?: Yes - Key Factors: 1. Personality: Adaptability, positive attitude, optimism 2. Social Supports: Presence of spouse, close family, friends, and community connections (e.g., religious or social organizations) 3. Additional factors discussed Lecture 9 – Diverse Families → Nov 14 Diversity - Definition: The variation of human experiences, dynamic and evolving backgrounds, and contexts (text, p. 263). - Characteristics Influencing Diversity (NCFR, 2016): - Ability and disability - Aboriginal, mixed, immigrant backgrounds - Age  - Bilingualism, multiculturalism, English language learning - Body size and condition - Customs and traditions - Educational, disciplinary, or career status - Ethnicity, race, national origin, cultural identity - Gender, gender identity, and expression - Geographical background and location - Marital status, relational status, family structure - Objective and subjective worldviews and standpoints - Political ideologies and affiliations - Religion, spirituality, faith, or no religion - Sexual orientation, identities, and expressions - Socioeconomic status, residential status, social class, employment, national service Research Examples in Diversity - Cousins, 1989 Study - “Concreate” (Japanese) vs “Abstract” (American) thinking - This tendency previously considered a cognitive/experiential deficit - Must be in the early concrete stages of Piaget's scheme - Investigated the influence of cultural meaning systems on perceptions of the self in American and Japanese college students. - Hypothesis: Cultural meaning systems shape self-perceptions. “I predicted that the contextualized format, asking subjects to describe themselves in specific settings such as home or school, would allow Japanese to transfer more to personal styles and dispositions” - Individualistic Culture: Stresses autonomy, personal identity separate from society, and self-aggrandizement - Collectivistic (Sociocentric) Culture: Focuses on relational identity, empathy, and situational adjustment, person as fundamentally related to others - Adams & Plaut (2003): Comparison of friendship patterns in North America and West Africa. - Finding: North American friendship norms, like low concern for harm from friends, reflect specific cultural contexts (p. 334). Diversity in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) - Professionals encounter diverse individuals and families, requiring: - Social cue awareness - Behavioral interpretation - Contextual understanding - Identification of strengths and stressors (text p. 264) Types of Diversity in Families 1. Cultural Variation  - Definition of Culture (Schweder, 1990): Shared norms, values, and behaviors within groups. - Walsh et al. (2017): "Diversity refers to variation in human experience; culture refers to similarities within groups" (p. 260). - Cultural Competence (Text p. 272): Working respectfully and effectively with diverse families. 2. Structural Variation (text p. 266) - Family Structure: The organization of a family unit. - Family Composition: The makeup of family members, their roles, and responsibilities. - Family Forms (text, Box 13.2): Examples of different family structures. Lecture 10 – Notes on Lecture 10: Family Strengths Agenda: 1. Strengths-based vs. deficit-based approach 2. Characteristics of strong families 3. Family resilience 4. Research insights from Gottman Love Lab (strong marriages) 5. Self-reflection exercise Family Strengths: Definition: ○ Relationships, patterns, and support systems protecting families during hardships. ○ Foster thriving and cohesiveness. Approaches: ○ Strengths-based: Focuses on existing resources and supports. ○ Deficit-based: Focuses on fixing what’s wrong. Characteristics of Strong Families: 1. Individual Characteristics: ○ Traits like calm temperament, confidence, and positivity. ○ Loving, caring, encouraging, and appreciative behaviors. 2. Patterns of Interaction: ○ Clear roles and responsibilities. ○ Boundaries supporting expectations and roles. 3. Cohesion: ○ Built through traditions and routines.  4. Parent-Child Relationships: ○ Respectful communication. ○ Warmth, affection, and sensitivity. ○ Emotional expression and balanced guidance. 5. Romantic and Social Bonds: ○ Quality relationships benefit adults and children. ○ Parents’ happiness influences children’s success in school. Research Highlights: The American Family Assets Study (Roehlkepartain & Syversten, 2014): ○ Surveyed 1,500 families. ○ Identified traits such as communication, traditions, and community ties. Gottman Love Lab: ○ Insights on strengthening marriages through emotional connection and conflict resolution. Cultural and Community Strengths: ○ Strong cultural identity and visibility in the community. ○ Ties with neighbors and community members. Family Resilience: Definition: ○ Ability to adapt and rebound from adversity. Key Processes: ○ Maintaining stability and positivity in stress. Limitations: ○ Challenges beyond reasonable adaptation often require systemic supports (e.g., public policies). Developing Strengths: Building nurturing relationships. Establishing routines and traditions. Positive communication and emotional availability. Clear boundaries and adaptability. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. What’s your earliest memory of recognizing differences among families? 2. What stereotypes or messages shaped your views of other families? 3. When did you realize your family’s uniqueness? 4. In what contexts did your family feel a sense of belonging or alienation? Summary Table of Family Strengths:  Relational: Positive communication, support, emotional availability. Behavioral: Clear roles, routines, flexibility, problem-solving. Community: Neighborhood cohesion, enriching activities, connections. Lecture 11 – Notes on "Nov 28 Class" Presentation Writing APA Proposals 1. Types of Scholarly Articles: ○ Quantitative: Original empirical research using various designs. ○ Qualitative: Original empirical research focused on descriptive or thematic analysis. 2. Proposal Structure: ○ Introduction: Overview of the research problem, question, or theory. Review and presentation of existing empirical literature. Clear statement of the hypothesis. ○ Method: Participants: Description of the sample. Measures: Explanation of tools used (e.g., questionnaires, behavioral measures). Procedure: Step-by-step outline of participant activities. ○ Proposed Analysis: Basic analytical strategy for interpreting data. ○ Significance & Limitations: Importance of the study and anticipated challenges. Writing Skills 1. Tips for Writing: ○ Choose simple, clear words. ○ Write like you would explain your ideas in conversation. ○ Avoid wordiness and overly complex phrasing. ○ Outline your paper for better organization. ○ Revise after drafting. 2. Practical Advice: ○ "Writing a journal article is like writing a romantic comedy: stick to the formula." ○ APA Style organizes elements clearly; learn what belongs where for efficiency. Research Example: Gender and Mental Health 1. Focus Areas: ○ Gender roles and identity.  ○ Biological sex vs. gender role orientation as explanatory theories. 2. Debates: ○ Role of gender in the mental health gap. ○ Impacts of societal views and stereotypes on mental health.