Chapter 5

Family Influences

A. At one time it was believed that socialization was directed from families to adolescents; current theories assume that parents (or primary caregivers) influence adolescents and, at the same time, adolescents socialize parents

This is known as reciprocal socialization.

B. A parent may exert a direct effect on an adolescent and an adolescent’s behavior may be influenced indirectly by the nature of the direct interaction between two parents (or one parent and a significant other)

Some research shows that the presence of the father serves to improve mother-son interactions

C. It has been argued that children learn ways of relating to significant figures (parents) and transfer these ways of relating to future significant figures (friends, teachers, romantic partners)

Children who are “securely attached” show more social competence in social situations and more confidence to engage in peer relationships without anxiety or fear of rejection

D. Changing Children and Maturation of Parents

1. What contributes to parent-child conflict

a. adolescents want justification and reasons for parental requests; in such situations the parent(s) may clamp down harder or become more rigid

b. adolescents may compare their parent(s) to an ideal parent

c. adolescent more attuned to the peer world than the parental world

2. marital and personal dissatisfaction tends to be higher during this period than when children were younger and when they will be older

a. time when parents going through mid-life evaluations

b. time of high economic burdens on parents

3. Parents as managers and controllers of adolescent behavior.

a. parents can adopt strategies that vary from

placing heavy demands for unquestioned compliance to

being unwilling to be involved in or monitor the adolescent’s development

b. research indicates that the most effective parenting strategies are not neglectful (uninvolved), overly permissive (indulgent) or authoritarian (restrictive and punitive) but rather

authoritative: warm, placing limits, and allowing give and take. This style tends to produce adolescents who are socially competent and thus free from problem behaviors

4. How prevalent is parent-adolescent conflict?

a. generation gap? No: vast majority of adolescents are similar to parents or major dimensions (values, achievment orientation, religion, political leanings)

b. when there is conflict it is often around minor issues and arguments (cleanliness, dress, curfew, noise, car usage, social issues, etc).

1) the adolescent may define the issue as a personal one; the parent defines it broader as a family or community issue

c. moderate conflict appears to characterize about 20-25 percent, and evidence suggests that much of this conflict was present before the adolescent period

E. Autonomy and attachment

1. both autonomy (independence) and attachment (reliance on family) are important variables in adolescent development

a. it is very important for the adolescent to develop emotional autonomy (rely less on parents for emotional support)

2. psychologically healthy families allow for growing independence and adjust parental demands accordingly (typically the authoritative parent)

3. attachment theorists—argue that “secure” attachment in childhood is central to developing social competence and positive social relations

a. secure vs. insecure (the parent is a secure base from which to explore the environment vs. separation from the parent results in childhood anger, detachment, or fear)

b. separation experiences (overnight stays, camps, college)

F. Sibling relationships and birth order do play a role in adolescence but their impact can be complex depending on a number of factors

G. Other family variables

1. research shows the importance of a warm, nurturing, and involved father on positive outcomes for adolescents, and the importance of an egalitarian marital relationship (modeling good communication)

2. divorce: adolescents from divorced families are more at-risk for problems than those from non-divorced families—including dropping out of school and teen pregnancy-- (though not as much as divorce occurring earlier in the child’s life) but research suggests that the majority cope with this stressor well

3. divorce may cause the adolescent to spend less time at home and more time with peers

4. divorce brings with it significant income loss; any significant unemployment (including parental job loss) can have significant negative effects on adolescents

5. whereas adjustment usually takes about two years, in a stepfamily situation is can take up to 5 years and more

6. mothers’ return to work during the adolescent period—no negative effects