Life Course Theory

KEY CONCEPTS “Social Process” Time –Ontogenetic Time –Generational Time –Historical Time Positions In Families Family Stages Transitions Stage-Critical Developmental Tasks

Example of Role Relations Sex-Partner Role Companion Role Wife Sex-Partner Role Provider Role Wife Mother Wife Mother Childcare Role Companion Role Sex-Partner Role Provider Role Wife Mother Wife Mother Childcare Role Companion Role Disciplinarian Role Confidante Role

KEY CONCEPTS “Social Process” Time –Ontogenetic Time –Generational Time –Historical Time Positions In Families Family Stages Transitions Stage-Critical Developmental Tasks

Stage I: Married Couple POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife Husband POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife Husband STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Establishing a satisfying marriage Fitting into kin networks STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Establishing a satisfying marriage Fitting into kin networks

Stage II: Childbearing POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Adjusting to Pregnancy Having, adjusting to and encouraging the development of infants Establishing a satisfying home for parents & infants STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Adjusting to Pregnancy Having, adjusting to and encouraging the development of infants Establishing a satisfying home for parents & infants

Stage III: Preschool Age POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Adapting to need/interests of preschool children Coping with energy depletion and lack of privacy as parents STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Adapting to need/interests of preschool children Coping with energy depletion and lack of privacy as parents

Stage IV: School Age POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Fitting into the community of school-age families Encouraging children’s educational achievement STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Fitting into the community of school-age families Encouraging children’s educational achievement

Stage V: Teenage POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Balancing freedom with responsibility as teenagers mature Establishing postparental interests and “careers” as parents STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Balancing freedom with responsibility as teenagers mature Establishing postparental interests and “careers” as parents

Stage V-Break: Teenage Parent POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother-Grandmother Husband-Father-Grandfather Daughter-Sister-Mother Son-Brother-Uncle POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother-Grandmother Husband-Father-Grandfather Daughter-Sister-Mother Son-Brother-Uncle STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS ? ?

Stage V-Break: Divorce POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother Phases Of Divorce The decision to divorce Planning the system breakup Separation Divorce Managing Two Single-Parent Family Homes Phases Of Divorce The decision to divorce Planning the system breakup Separation Divorce Managing Two Single-Parent Family Homes

Stage V-Break: Divorce POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS ? ?

Stage V-Break: Remarriage POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father-Husband Wife-Stepmother Daughter-Sister-Stepdaughter Son-Brother-Stepson POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Ex-Wife-Mother Ex-Husband-Father-Husband Wife-Stepmother Daughter-Sister-Stepdaughter Son-Brother-Stepson ? ? STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS

Stage V: Teenage POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father Daughter-Sister Son-Brother STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Balancing freedom with responsibility as teenagers mature Establishing postparental interests and “careers” as parents STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Balancing freedom with responsibility as teenagers mature Establishing postparental interests and “careers” as parents

Stage VI: Launching Center POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother Husband-Father STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Releasing young adults into adulthood with appropriate rituals and assistance Maintaining a supportive home base STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Releasing young adults into adulthood with appropriate rituals and assistance Maintaining a supportive home base Daughter-Sister Son-Brother Daughter-Sister Son-Brother

Stage VII: Middle Aged Parents POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother-Grandmother-Mother In Law Husband-Father-Grandfather-Father In Law POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Wife-Mother-Grandmother-Mother In Law Husband-Father-Grandfather-Father In Law STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Rebuilding the marriage relationship Maintaining kin ties with older and younger generations STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Rebuilding the marriage relationship Maintaining kin ties with older and younger generations Daughter-Sister-Aunt-”Partner”-Sister In Law Son-Brother-Husband-Father Daughter-Sister-Aunt-”Partner”-Sister In Law Son-Brother-Husband-Father

Stage VIII: Aging Family POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Closing the family home or adapting it to aging Adjusting to retirement STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS Closing the family home or adapting it to aging Adjusting to retirement Husband-Father-Grandfather Widow-Mother-Grandmother Wife-Mother-Grandmother Coping with bereavement and living alone

Stage VIII-Break: Aging Family POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Widow-Mother-Grandmother Daughter-Wife-Mother-Caretaker Son In Law-Husband-Father Children-Siblings-Grandchildren POSITIONS IN THE FAMILY Widow-Mother-Grandmother Daughter-Wife-Mother-Caretaker Son In Law-Husband-Father Children-Siblings-Grandchildren STAGE-CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS ? ?