1. Chapter 14
Family Crises

2. Chapter Outline Coping with Crises Death in the Family
Accidents, Injuries, and Catastrophic Illness
Family Violence
Poverty and Unemployment
The Military Family in Time of War
Drug and Alcohol Abuse

3. What is a crisis?
A crisis is any event that upsets the smooth functioning of a person’s life.

4. Review: 8 Characteristics of Strong Families
Commitment
Appreciation
Good communication skills
Desire to spend time together

5. Review: 8 Characteristics of Strong Families
Strong value system
Ability to deal with crises and stress in a positive manner
Resilience
Self-efficacy

6. Coping with Crisis
Depending on a family’s viewpoint and resources, many different kinds of events are apt to become crises.
Crisis-provoking events are called stressor events.

7. Types of Stressor Events
Internal - Events that arise from someone inside the family, such as alcoholism, suicide, or running for election.
External - Events that arise outside the family, such as earthquakes, terrorism, the inflation rate, or cultural attitudes toward women and minorities.

8. Types of Stressor Events
Normative - Events that are expected over the family life cycle, such as birth, launching a young adult, marriage, aging, or death.
Nonnormative - Events that are unexpected, such as winning a lottery, getting a divorce, dying young or war.

9. Types of Stressor Events
Ambiguous - The facts are so unclear that you’re not even sure that the crisis is happening to you and your family.
Nonambiguous - Clear facts are available about the event: what is happening, when, how long, and to whom.

10. Types of Stressor Events
Volitional - Events that are wanted and sought out, such as a freely chosen job change, a college entrance, or a wanted pregnancy.
Nonvolitional - Events that just happen, such as being laid off or the sudden loss of someone loved.

11. Types of Stressor Events
Chronic - A situation that has long duration, such as diabetes, chemical addiction, or racial discrimination.
Cumulative - Events that pile up, one right after the other, so there is no resolution before the next one occurs.

12. Types of Stressor Events
Acute - An event that lasts a short time but is severe, such as breaking a limb, losing a job, or flunking a test.
Isolated - An event that occurs alone, at least with no other events apparent at that time. It can be pinpointed easily.

13. Stress Leads to Success?
Research has found that moderate stress, especially during childhood, may be related to later achievement.
In a study of 400 famous individuals from the twentieth century, it was found that 3/4 were troubled as children and that 1/4 faced physical disability or difficulty.

14. Responses to Stress General-adaptation Syndrome: Alarm Resistance
Recovery or exhaustion

15. Alarm Reaction Physical and psychological changes are experienced.
These changes are controlled by the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems.
These two systems usually operate in opposition to each other; that is, if one system activates a response, the other counteracts the response.

16. Resistance
During this stage, various physical responses appear to return to normal, because the body has built up resistance to the stress.

17. Exhaustion or Recovery
During this stage, exhaustion occurs if the original symptoms return. The person often becomes physically ill.
On the other hand, if the stress has been reduced to a tolerable level, the symptoms do not come back and recovery ensues.

18. Autonomic Nervous System

19. Physical Signs of Stress
Pounding of the heart; rapid heart rate
Rapid, shallow breathing
Dryness of the throat and mouth
Raised body temperature
Decreased sexual appetite or activity
Feelings of weakness, light-headedness, dizziness, or faintness

20. Psychological Signs of Stress
Irritability, tension, or depression
Impulsive behavior and emotional instability
Lowered self-esteem; thoughts related to failure
Excessive worry; insecurity; concern about other people’s opinions; self-deprecation
Reduced ability to communicate with others

21. Steps in Crises Management
Describe the event in realistic terms and determine whether it is a crisis for you, your family, or your friend.
Examine your emotions and reactions to the crisis situation.
Seek support and help from friends and family.
Consider all possibilities and take decisive action to resolve the crisis.

22. Therapy
Therapy is a broad term used to describe actions taken to cure or solve any problem.
Taking an aspirin is therapy for a headache.
Counseling from a hospice after the death of a loved one is therapy.
Many groups and organizations help individuals cope with crises in their lives.

23. Defending Against Harmful Stress
Coping devices are ways of handling or dealing with stress, frustration, pain, fear, anxiety, and any other problems arising from stressful situations.
Anxiety is a generalized fear, without a specific object or source.

24. Progressive Relaxation
Assume a comfortable position, in a quiet environment and with eyes closed.
Breathe deeply.
Relax each muscle in the body, starting with the feet and working up to the neck and face.
Maintain a quiet attitude, let thoughts come and go, allow relaxation to proceed at its own pace.
Remain relaxed for 15 to 20 minutes.

25. Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are the methods an individual uses to deny, excuse, change, or disguise behaviors that cause stress or anxiety.
They are unconscious, unlike the coping strategies.

26. Positive Uses of Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms can give time to adjust to a problem that might at first be overwhelming.
Defense mechanisms may lead to experimentation with new roles.

27. Commonly Used Defense Mechanisms
Repression is an unconscious blocking of whatever is causing stress and frustration.
Displacement is a straightforward substitution of a less-threatening behavior for another.
Rationalization involves finding an excuse for a behavior that is causing trouble.

28. Commonly Used Defense Mechanisms
Projection is a defense mechanism whereby one’s own characteristics or impulses are imposed upon others.
Sublimation involves converting a socially unacceptable impulse into a socially acceptable activity.
Compensation allows a person to make up for a shortcoming in one area by becoming successful in another area.

29. Scapegoating
Projection is the major psychological mechanism used in scapegoating, whereby a person or group is blamed for the mistakes or crimes of another.
Scapegoating may also be evident when a person or group is blamed for some misfortune that is due to another cause.

30. Ambiguous Loss Two kinds:
In the first, people are physically absent but psychologically present, because it is unclear whether they are dead or alive.
Missing soldiers and kidnapped persons illustrate this type of loss.
The second type is when a person is physically present but psychologically absent, such as people with Alzheimer’s disease, addictions or who are in a coma.

31. Death Rate for Homicide (rate/100,000 pop)
1980
2002
All males
16.6
9.0
All females
4.4
2.8
White male
10.4
5.2
White female
3.2
2.1
Black male
69.4
35.4
Black female
13.2
7.1

32. Death Rate for Homicide (rate/100,000 pop)
1980
2002
Hispanic male
27.4 (1990)
11.8
Hispanic female
4.3 (1990)
2.8
Asian male
9.1
4.3
Asian female
3.1
1.7
American Indian male
23.3
10.7
American Indian female
4.6
3.0

33. Death Rate for Suicide (rate/100,000 pop)
1980
2002
All males
19.9
17.7
All females
5.7
4.0
White male
20.9
19.1
White female
6.1
4.3
Black male
11.4
10.0
Black female
2.4
1.8

34. Death Rate for Suicide (rate/100,000 pop)
1980
2002
Hispanic male
23.5 (1990)
20.2
Hispanic female
2.3 (1990)
1.7
Asian male
10.7
8.6
Asian female
5.5
2.8
American Indian male
19.3
16.0
American Indian female
4.7
3.8

35. Common Questions About Suicide
Why do young people want to die?
If suicidal persons want to live, then why would they try to kill themselves?
If a person’s mind is set on suicide, can anyone or anything change it?
Is it hard to face life after attempting suicide?

36. Common Questions About Suicide
Do people who talk about killing themselves just want attention? Is it best to just ignore their threats?
Are people who try to kill themselves emotionally ill?
What causes people to attempt suicide?

37. Common Questions About Suicide
How can you tell if someone is about to commit suicide?
What can you do to help if you suspect an oncoming suicide attempt?
What if you fail to prevent a suicide?
What if you sometimes feel like ending your own life?

38. Death Rates for Firearm-Related Injuries (rate/100,000 pop)
1980
2002
All persons
14.8
10.4
All males
25.9
18.1
All females
4.7
2.8
White male
22.1
15.9
White female
4.2
2.7
Black male
60.1
34.2
Black female
8.7
3.9
Death Rate for Homicide and Legal Intervention, 1980 and 2002 (rate/100,000 population) TABLE14-2

39. Death Rates for Firearm-Related Injuries (rate/100,000 pop)
1980
2002
Hispanic male
27.6 (1990)
13.6
Hispanic female
3.3 (1990)
1.8
American Indian male
24.0
13.1
American Indian female
5.8
2.9
Death Rate for Homicide and Legal Intervention, 1980 and 2002 (rate/100,000 population) TABLE14-2

40. Reactions to Death Denial and isolation Anger Bargaining Depression
Acceptance

41. Family Violence Violence between Partners Child Abuse Sibling Abuse
Peer Abuse
Parental Abuse by Children

42. Elements of Child Abuse
The parent must be a person to whom physical punishment is acceptable.
The abusive parent often has unrealistic expectations for the child.
The parent perceives the child to be difficult and trying.
There is usually a crisis of some kind.

43. Factors Associated with Family Violence
The cycle of violence
Socioeconomic status
Stress
Social isolation

44. Factors Associated with Family Violence
Traditional male-role orientation
Low self-esteem, understanding, patience, and tolerance
Alcohol and drug use

45. Americans in Poverty
FIGURE 14-2 Number and Percent of Americans in Poverty, 1959–2000

46. Percent All People and Family Members below 100% of Poverty, 2002
People in Families
All races
12.5%
10.8%
White
10.5
8.7
Black
24.4
23.1
Hispanic
22.5
21.5
Asian
11.8
9.8
Percent All People and Family Members below 100% of Poverty TABLE14-5

47. Poverty Rates by Education and Race, 2000
FIGURE 14-3 Poverty Rates by Education and Race or Ethnicity, 2000

48. Percent Child Poverty Rates
Race
Metropolitan
Rural
All Children
16%
19%
Black 32 42
Hispanic 19 24
Asian 14
American Indian 27 36
Percent Child Poverty Rates in Metro and Rural Settings TABLE14-6

49. The Working Poor
Working poor: Employed people who live below the poverty threshold

50. Various Family Relationships in the Military
FIGURE 14-4 Various Family Relationships in the Military

51. Advantages of Military Life
The entire military acts as a surrogate family.
The goals of the military are similar, thus contributing to a high degree of camaraderie.
Housing or an allowance is provided, which helps the families when moving from place to place.
New assignments bring new friends and support from service families at the new posting.

52. Disadvantages of Military Life
Frequent moves and loss of friends.
Parental absences with deployment.
Pressure to adjust and fit into the group.
Lack of control over one’s future.

53. Disadvantages of Military Life
Housing, although often provided, looks like everyone else’s and close living makes privacy difficult.
Parenting difficulties when a parent is deployed.
Stress for the trailing party.

54. Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is the persistent and excessive use of any drug that results in psychological or physical dependence, or that the society labels as dangerous or illegal.

55. Drug Abuse
Defining the term drug is difficult. One definition of a drug is any substance taken for medical purposes or for pleasure that affects bodily functions.

56. Continuum of Drug Action
FIGURE 14-5 Continuum of Drug Action

57. Well-known Personalities Who Had Drug-Related Deaths
Rob Pilatus
Chris Farley
Michael Hutchence
Sid Vicious
Kurt Cobain
Brian Jones
River Phoenix
John Belushi
Jim Morrison
Brian Epstein
Marilyn Monroe
Janis Joplin
Judy Garland
Elvis Presley
Jimi Hendrix
Len Bias

58. Quick Quiz

59. 1. When a person or group is blamed for the mistakes or crimes of another it is called
projection
displacement
scapegoating
repression

60. Answer: c
Scapegoating is when a person or group is blamed for the mistakes or crimes of another.

61. 2. Repression, projection and displacement are all
Coping methods
Defense Mechanisms
Relaxation Techniques
Stressor Events

62. Answer: b
Repression, projection and displacement are common defense mechanisms.

63. 3. Crisis provoking events are called
Stressor events
Family events
Crisis Management
Therapy

64. Answer: a
Crisis provoking events are also called stressor events.