The document discusses definitions of the family from various sociological perspectives. It notes Murdock's (1949) definition of the family as a social group related by ancestry, marriage, or adoption that lives together and cooperates economically. Others see the family as a close-knit group that cares for one another. Essentially, sociologists view the family as both a pattern of behaviors and set of cultural expectations. The document explores different types of families and living arrangements over time.

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2. Define “The Family”
Take three or four minutes and write a
definition for discussion.
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3. According to Murdock (1949), the family is “a
social group whose members are related by
ancestry, marriage, or adoption and live
together, cooperate economically, and care for
the young.” (From Hughes and Kroehler, 2007)
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4. But others see the family as “a close knit group
of people who care about and respect each
other.” (From Lauer and Lauer, 2000)
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5. Essentially the family is the basic unit of society
—the most important group. Or is it.
It would be, at least, the quintessential primary
group.
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6. Sociologists view the family as an
institution—both a pattern of
behaviors and a set of cultural
expectations.
(Konradi and Schmidt, 2004)
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7. While there is some consistency over time in
the way families form and the roles members
take, new ways of forming stable, supportive
economic and social relationships are always
emerging.
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8. Indeed, is the American family a social
problem in the first place? Is it in crisis or is it
falling apart?
Optional exercise:
Take five minutes and write why you think it is
or is not a social problem. Discuss.
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9. When is a family not a family?
Consider the kibbutz of Israel in the fifties to
the seventies. Have you ever heard of the
kibbutz?
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11.  Nuclear family
 Extended family
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14. Additionally one must consider two types of
nuclear family:
 Family of orientation
 Family of procreation
Which are you?
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15. 1 The patrilocal residence which is when the
bride and groom live in the household of the
husband’s family.
2 Matrilocal, which is living with the bride’s
family.
3 Neolocal, which is living in a new residence
separate from either family.
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16. 1 Patriarchal authority is the power domination of
the eldest male in the family. Examples are
ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans.
2 Matriarchal would be the holding of power in
the woman. There is some controversy over
there having actually been or is such a social
structure.
According to Howard Zinn (1995), a matrilineal
arrangement existed among the Iroquois: the
family line went down through the female
members.
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17. 3 Finally is the egalitarian authority—a shared
power arrangement where authority is equally
distributed between husband and wife.
Again the Iroquois are a good example of an
egalitarian society, the women having a say in
the local politics and able to vote to remove
men from office. (Zinn, 1995)
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18. More and more
couples with
children break up
and reunite with
other couples with
children, we find
blended families.
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19. What is the importance of family stability and
fixed types of families?
Consider the transfer of property and the
responsibility for children.
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20. What is marriage to you?
Write about this for three or four minutes for
discussion.
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21.  Endogamy (marriage within the group)
 Exogomy (marriage outside of the group)
What are some advantages or disadvantages to
either?
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22. 1 Monogamy
2 Polygyny
3 Polyandry
4 Group marriage
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23.  According to Hughes and Kroehler, citing
Murdock, 1967, “monogamy was the preferred
or ideal type of marriage in only 20 percent of
862 societies included in one cross cultural
sample.” (This does not mean that the majority
of marriage types allows for such an
arrangement—one must be able to afford it.)
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24. American couples are more conventional than
might be expected.
For instance: although 60 percent of wives
polled by Blumstein and Schwartz were
employed outside the home, only 30 percent of
the men and 39 percent of the women believed
that both spouses should work. (1983)
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25. 1 Matching Hypothesis: Individuals of similar
or equal attractiveness are drawn to each other.
2 Complementary Needs Theory:Opposites
attract. Each partner fulfills the gap that the
other has.
3 Exchange Theory
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26. 3 Exchange Theory:
a) We like those who reward us and dislike
those who punish us.
b) How do we benefit from a relationship?
c) Matching is by persons of similar physical
attractiveness—thus we minimize the risk of
rejection.
d) The exchange of behaviors is one of low
risk and high reward.
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27. While the conventionality of couple remains
strong, the shape of families is in flux.
Do we need marriage?
Consider Popenoe’s criticism of Sweden.
(See excerpt if available. Otherwise use following
slides.) Discuss or write about:
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28. Do we need marriage if, as in Sweden:
1. Parental leave at 90 percent of salary
2. Free day care
3. Child support payments and housing subsidies (at a
higher level for single than married parents)
4. Free medical and dental care
5. Free education to the university level
6. Never-married or divorced mothers are not plunged into
poverty, and no child grows up hungry, unsupervised,
or undereducated.
(continued)
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29. However consider Popenoe’s points based
upon his studies:
1. In mother-only families, children have fewer (if any)
sibling companions and adult role models).
2. Parents and children do fewer things together as a
family.
3. They have less time to develop family-centered
routines and traditions.
4. Children lack the security of knowing their parents will
try to stay together…
5. Loss of familialism: the belief in a strong sense of family
identification and loyalty, mutual assistance among
family members and a concern for the perpetuation of
the family unit. 29

30. Indeed, increasing numbers of Americans no
longer view marriage as a permanent
institution but as something that can be ended
and reentered. (Hughes and Kroehler, 2007)
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31. More than one American youngster in four
lives with just one parent. (Kroehler and
Hughes, 2007)
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34. Note that while teen pregnancy is on the
decrease, unwed motherhood is on the rise.
Is this a moral dilemma or a structural one?
Write about this for three minutes.
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38. The US marriage rate peaked in 1965 at 11.1 per
1000.
It dropped to a low of 8.5 per 1000 in 1991 and
has remained close to this low since.
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39. Meanwhile, divorce rates have cycled from a
high in 1945 down and back up again in 1979 to
a rate of 5.3 per 1000 marriages.
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41. Divorce results in in a slight increase in income
for the father while causing a “precipitous and
sustained decline in household income for the
mother an child.”
(Hughes & Kroehler 2007)
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42.  Lowest divorce rate: Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont
 Mass has lowest divorce rate: 2.4 per 1k
 Highest in the “Bible Belt”
 Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, and Texas
 Born-again Christians have highest divorce rate
Slide credited to Excelsior College

43.  More couples in the South enter their first marriage at
a younger age.
 Average household incomes are lower in the South.
 Southern states have a lower percentage of Roman
Catholics, "a denomination that does not recognize
divorce." Barna's study showed that 21 percent of
Catholics had been divorced, compared with 29
percent of Baptists.
Slide credited to Excelsior College

44.  Education. Massachusetts has about the highest rate of
education in the country, with 85 percent completing high
school. For Texas the rate is 76 percent. One third of
Massachusetts residents have completed college, compared with
23 percent of Texans, and the other Northeast states are right
behind Massachusetts.
 The liberals from Massachusetts have long prided themselves
on their emphasis on education, and it has paid off: People who
stay in school longer get married at a later age, when they are
more mature, are more likely to secure a better job, and job
income increases with each level of formal education. As a
result, Massachusetts also leads in per capita and family income
while births by teenagers, as a percent of total births, was 7.4 for
Massachusetts and 16.1 for Texas.
Slide credited to Excelsior College

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46.  Interestingly enough, cohabiting before
marriage does NOT assure that the marriage
will last.
 Cohabiters who cohabit serially are more
likely to divorce than those who do not
cohabit.
 Cohabiting, however, is becoming a natural
form of courtship in the US.
 Is it replacing marriage?
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