1. Family Characteristics Chapter 3 Notes

2. I. Where do your images of what a family is come from? Media –TV –Movies Real Families

3. II. Recognizing Family Patterns: A.Nuclear Family: Mother, Father and their children B.Extended Family: Relatives other than parents and children C.Blended Family: Husband and wife, at least one of whom has children from a previous relationship.

4. D.Single-Parent Family: One parent and his/her children E.Adoptive Family: Legal process to permanently make children part of the family F.Foster Family: Temporary basis for caring of children by family

5. G.Couples: Two people with no children in the home H.Legal Guardians: Courts make an adult financially and legally responsible for the care of a child

6. III. Family Personality: All the characteristics that combine to make a family unique A.Different family atmosphere: joking around, quiet, etc. B.Family decision making: Autocratic or Democratic

7. IV. Interdependence: Feeling of mutual reliance is healthy Dependent: People rely on others. In healthy families people rely on each other, but not too much or too little. VI. Family Goals: Influence what goes on in the family.

8. VII. Stages of Family Development 1.Couples 2.Parental Years: families raise children to be independent adults. a.Expanding: new members are added to the family b.Developing: children grow older c.Launching: exit of children from the family home

9. 3.Middle years: “Empty Nest”: home with children grown and gone 4.Retirement Years