Exploring Family Theories » (2nd Edition)

Suzanne R. Smith is Associate Professor of Human Development, Associate Chair, and Program Director at Washington State University, Vancouver.

Raeann R. Hamon is Distinguished Professor of Family Science and Gerontology and Chair of the Human Development and Family Science Department at Messiah College.

The late Bron B. Ingoldsby was Associate Professor of Family Life at Brigham Young University.

J. Elizabeth Miller is Associate Professor of Family and Child Studies at Northern Illinois University.

Written by a team of experts, Exploring Family Theories, Second Edition, is a combined text/reader that integrates theory with research and applications. Presenting a diverse variety of perspectives, it offers students a unique and highly readable introduction to family theories.

In each chapter, Suzanne R. Smith, Raeann R. Hamon, Bron B. Ingoldsby, and J. Elizabeth Miller present the history, scholarship, and critiques of each principal family theory in a concise and student-friendly manner. Numerous illustrations and examples augment and clarify content, while application questions help students relate each theory to the real world. After each chapter, a follow-up journal article exemplifies how each theory is used to guide actual research.

Now in its second edition, Exploring Family Theories features contemporary—rather than historical—readings and a completely updated literature review. This edition also addresses issues of diversity throughout.

Clear, comprehensive, and concise, Exploring Family Theories, Second Edition, is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in family theory.

Acknowledgments vii

About the Authors xiii

Introduction 1

What Is Theory? 1

Theory in Historical Perspective 4

Family Theory 5

Text Organization 6

1 Symbolic Interactionism Theory 9

History 10

Basic Assumptions 13

Primary Terms and Concepts 15

Common Areas of Research and Application 18

Critique 20

Application 22

Sample Reading: Symbolic Interactionism in Grounded Theory Studies: Women Surviving with HIV/AIDS in Rural Northern Thailand Areewan Klunklin Jennifer Greenwood 25

2 Structural Functionalism Theory 38

History 38

Basic Assumptions 40

Primary Terms and Concepts 41

Common Areas of Research and Application 43

Critique 46

Application 48

Sample Reading: The Theoretical Importance of Love William J. Goode 50

3 Family Development Theory 64

History 64

Basic Assumptions 66

Primary Terms and Concepts 66

Common Areas of Research and Application 69

Critique 77

Application 78

Sample Reading: Work-Family Stage and Satisfaction with Work-Family Balance James M. White 82

4 Family Stress Theory 94

History 95

Basic Assumptions 96

Primary Terms and Concepts 99

Common Areas of Research and Application 101

Critique 104

Application 107

Sample Reading: Ambiguous Loss and the Family Grieving Process Gabrielle Betz Jill M. Thorngren 111

5 Family Systems Theory 123

History 123

Basic Assumptions 125

Primary Terms and Concepts 131

Common Areas of Research and Application 134

Critique 136

Application 137

Sample Reading: The Costs of Getting Ahead: Mexican Family System Changes After Immigration Martica L. Bacallao Paul R. Smokowski 140

6 Conflict Theory 161

History 162

BasicAssumptions 163

Primary Terms and Concepts 167

Common Areas of Research and Application 169

Critique 173

Application 174

Sample Reading: Why Welfare? Karen Seccombe 177

7 Social Exchange Theory 201

History 201

Basic Assumptions 202

Primary Terms and Concepts 203

Common Areas of Research and Application 205

Critique 209

Application 210

Sample Reading: Power and Dependence in Intimate Exchange Arnout van de Rijt Michael W. Mucy 213

8 Feminist Family Theory 230

History 230

Basic Assumptions 232

Primary Terms and Concepts 237

Common Areas of Research and Application 239

Critique 241

Application 242

Sample Reading: Feminist Visions for Transforming Families: Desire and Equality Then and Now Katherine R. Allen 245

9 Biosocial Theory 260

History 261

Basic Assumptions 262

Primary Terms and Concepts 264

Common Areas of Research and Application 265

Critique 269

Application 270

Sample Reading: Biosocial Perspectives on the Family Alan Booth Karen Carver Douglas A. Granger 273

Epilogue 297

Author Index 303

Subject Index 311