Family Development Theory Rodgers, R. H., & White, J. M. (1993). Family development theory. In P. G. Boss, W. J. Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm, & S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theories and methods: A contextual approach (pp ). New York: Plenum Press.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Assumptions That Have Misdirected Family Development Theory  Teleology: family development has some end or goal, an assumption which was influenced by child development.  Determinism  Behavior can be predicted: ignorance and measurement error impede complete understanding.  Mistaken view: if certain conditions are met, families will successfully move to the next “normative” stage.  Determinism made causal claims “that bordered on moral righteousness” (Rodgers & White, 1993, p. 227).  Levels of Analysis: four levels of analysis were considered distinct, but it has been difficult to always clearly distinguish them.  Individuals.  Relationships.  Family group.  The institution of the family.  Logical Criteria: theoretical concepts need to meet strict logical criteria

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Theoretical Reformulation  Components of a Definition of Family:  the sector of social life that is organized,  the institutional nature of organizing norms,  and the nature of the group being organized.  Definition: “an intergenerational social group organized and governed by social norms regarding descent and affinity, reproduction, and the nurturant socialization of the young” (White, 1991).  Table 10-1 reviews levels of analysis and research examples.  Norm: pattern of commonly held behavioral expectations; it is a learned response.  Norms feature both social expectations and behavior.  Static norms: “regulate behavior and expectations within an age grouping.”  Process norms: “regulate timing and sequencing of expectations and behavior.”  Role: an integrated or related subset of norms associated with a social position  Position: “point or location within a particular type of social structure.”

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Table 10.1: Levels of Analysis and Example of Concepts

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Static Concepts  Norm: pattern of commonly held behavioral expectations; it is a learned response.  Norms feature both social expectations and behavior.  Static norms: “regulate behavior and expectations within an age grouping.”  Process norms: “regulate timing and sequencing of expectations and behavior.”  Role: an integrated or related subset of norms associated with a social position  Position: “point or location within a particular type of social structure.”

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Static Concepts (cont.)  Stage: family group structure is used to define stages (see Figure 10-1). There are three criteria for determining stages:  The set of stages should be exhaustive and exclusive.  The set should be tied to the theory.  The set should be cross-cultural and applicable.  Event: transition points between stages.  Notion of the Family Career: “sequential linking of family stages over the life history of the family system.”

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Dynamic Concepts  Transitions:  Movement from one qualitatively distinct stage to another.  They are regulated by process norms.  Stage duration: time between stages.  Timing:  Timing as normative: normative expectations about the timing of stages.  Age timing: event that marks the beginning of an event (e.g., birth, relationship).  Event and stage sequences è Event sequences vary which has research and theoretical implications. è Event and stage sequences measure time (e.g., period between events). è There are three effects associated with a transition: Unique effect of event, regardless of stage. Effect on stage of origin. Effect on stage of destination.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Definitions (from Table 10-2):  “A family stage is a qualitative period in the life of a family with its own unique group structure.”  “Transition points are separating points between family stages.”  “The institutions of marriage and the family contains all norms regulating those particular area of social life.”  “A position is a location or a point in a social structure; a family position is a location or point in a kinship structure.”  “A norm is a social rule that has the two dimensions of a social expectation and behavior.”  “A role is composed of all the norms attached to a specific position.”  “A timing norm is a processual norm for when an event or stage is to be experienced by an individual, relationship, or family group. (This is in general measured by comparing the age and stage expectations and behavior for the individual, relationship, and family to establish whether the unit is ‘on-time’ or ‘off-time.’”

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Definitions (cont.):  “A sequencing norm is a processual norm for the order in which events and stages are to be experienced by an individual, relationship, or family. (This is measured by the conformity or deviance for a sequence of events or stages from this modal sequence.)”  “Other institutions are composed of the norms regulating specific areas of social life such as work, religion, education, polity, etc.”  “The conjunction of one institution’s timing norms with another institution’s are called cross-institutional timing norms.”  “The conjunction of one institution’s sequencing norms with another institution’s are called cross-institutional sequencing norms.”  “Institutional normative adaptation is when norms of one institution are brought into alignment and articulation with the norms of some other institution(s).”

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Axioms (from Table 10-2):  “The process of family development is modeled by a semi-Markov model (see Note 26).”  “When an institution’s timing and sequencing norms do not articulate with those of other institutions (cross-institutional), then:  Individuals experience contradictory normative demands and, in conforming to one institution’s set of norms, deviate from the norms in another institutions (strain).  Contradictory timing and sequencing norms for family stages lead to grater deviation from the normative paths.  Systematic individual and group deviance places pressure on an institution to adapt or align itself with the sequencing and timing norms of other institutions.”

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Propositions (from Table 10-2):  “Family development is stage dependent because there exists institutional sequencing and norms.”  “Role relationships within the family change with the family stage.”  “Family development is duration dependent because there exists institutional timing norms.”  “Role relationships develop over time, in part, as a function of family stages.”  “The normative demands of any given institution must be in line with the maturation of the individual.”  “The normative demands of any given institution must be in line with the stage of the family, otherwise the family is strained.”  “The sum total of normative demands for all institutions at any one point in time cannot overload the capacity of individuals or groups without creating social deviance (cross- normative strain).”  “Institutional normative adaptation is preceded by systematic behavioral deviance.”