Family and dynamics

Family and Dynamics

The word “family” has been taken over from Latin word famulus which means a servant. Thus, originally, the family consisted of a man and women with a child or children and servants. In general, family refers to a domestic group of people connected by consanguinity, affinity, and co-residence or by birth or marriage who is living sharing under the same shelter, using same kitchen and its norms, values as well as its own belief. The family is the most primary group in society. It is the most basic of social groupings. It is the first and most immediate social environment to which a child is exposed. Every one of us grows up in a family and every one of us too will be a member of one family and other.

The family, as an institution is universal. All societies large and small, primitive and civilized, ancient and modern have some form of family and other. No one knows, or can know, how or when the family begins; it is safe to surmise that the family in some form will always be with us. With regard to the future as the mind can imagine, the family will continue to be central and indeed a nuclear component of society. There may be no families in utopia, and nine in paradise, but the planet we know best will probably always contain them. Sociology view of family is also concerned with the changing role and diversity of family forms in contemporary society in relation to ideology, gender difference. Thus, sociological view of family is the study of the family unit from a sociological viewpoint which includes the following study.

• Number of children in the family
• Relative ages
• Racial or ethnic background
• Education levels of the family members
• All of the interactions of the family unit, society, culture with each other.

Family Dynamics

Families are must more than a group of individuals. They have their own goals and aspirations. People often look at the family dynamics in the context of what makes a family dysfunctional. Family dynamics are the interaction between family members as well as the varying relationships that can exist within the family. Every family has its own dynamic which manifests in its own way. Uncovering this relationship can help you better understand your family as well as others, including how families function. The concept of family dynamics is of interest to those in health care, counseling and therapeutic, religious or spiritual, mental, health or child services and suggests that there is a set of behaviors indicative of healthy and unhealthy family dynamics.

Some of the many influences on family dynamics include:

• Nature of the parent's relationship
• Having particularly soft or strict parents
• Number of children in the family
• Personalities of family members
• Nature of attachment in family
• Dynamics of previous generations
• Broader systems- social, economic, political including poverty

Family structure

Family structure is one-way family dynamics are perceived. Factors like the number of children, parents and other, the biological connection or lack their off between a parent and child and the age rank and difference among children in a household will play a part in how family dynamics are characterized.

• Single parent families

While single parent families may have additional stresses than nuclear family successfully raising children and healthy family interaction is attainable.

• Childless family

While most people think of family as including children, there are couples who either cannot or choose not to have children. The childless family is sometimes call forgotten family as it does not meet the traditional standard set by society. Childless families consist of a husband and wife living and working together.

• Step-family

This creates the step-family which involves two separate families merging into one new unit. It consists of a new husband and wife and their children from previous marriages or relationship.

• Cohabiting families

In this kind of family, the couple lives together but is not legally married. Either one or both of them are the biological or adoptive parents of children.

• Foster and group-home families

Foster parents and institutional child care worker often provide a substitute family for children referred by the courts or government agencies

Family values

The values of the family unit and each family member’s personality affect the family dynamic and can often be a primary source of conflict. Ethnic, religious and cultural background and values are often to be a shared experience for members of the same family particularly in the eyes of a parent. When another family member disagrees with or has life experiences opposed to these standards, it can put a strain on the family dynamic with the traditionally complying members expressing disobedience, betrayal or concern for their well-being. The family member opposing the standards often feels like she is not being listened to, ignore, expected change, disgracing the family or experiencing black sheep syndrome. Even after initial conflicts are resulting this difference in values will still in some way affect family dynamics.

Socialization

• Socialization is a learning process then begins shortly after birth.
• The general process of acquiring culture is referring to as socialization.
• During socialization, we learn the language of the culture we are born into as well as the role we are to play in life.
• Socialization continues throughout our lives. As we age we enter new status and need to learn the appropriate roles for them.
• We also have experience that teaches us lessons and potentially lead us to alter our expectation, beliefs and personality.
• Different culture uses different techniques to socialize their children.
• Successful socialization can result in uniformity within the society. If all children receive the same socialization it is likely that they will share the same beliefs and expectation.
• To broad types of teaching method that is formal and informal.
• Formal education what primarily happens in a classroom.
• Informal education can occur anywhere.
• Direct training, giving information and reinforcing acceptable or desirable behaviors.
• Serve as important role models for the Childs attitudes, beliefs and action.
• Manage other aspects of a child’s life which in turn influence development for example, schools, neighborhood, extra activities, peer network etc.