You are on page 1of 1

Maddie Hall Unit 1 Essay 2- Family Theories

One theory that is interesting to think about is the structural functionalism theory, which
focusses more on society rather than individuals, and encourages different traits in men and
women in order to survive. Studying society as a whole opposed to individual families may have
some benefits, but it does not result in the most accurate and effective results. I agree that men
and women possess different traits in order to work together using their differences to achieve a
common goal and to have a healthy relationship, but not every man or woman will have the same
traits as any other man or woman. The structural Functionalism Theory seems to generalize roles
of men and women in almost a stereotypical way that excludes those who do not meet the criteria
for the expected gender roles.
Theorists studying the conflict theory see society as divided and believe that conflict
and power in family life are just as fundamental as love and affection. Again, conflict between
families is difficult to measure due to the private lives that many people live, and the different
things that are considered conflict among a variety of people. Many believe that differences
cause conflict and contention, yet similarities between individuals can result in the same amount
of conflict or more. Conflict theorists assume that differences lead to conflict. Differences can
also be accepted. Tolerated, or appreciated, (Strong & Cohen, p. 45).
The Social Exchange Theory is based on the idea that relationships are measured on a
cost-benefit basis in order to obtain the best outcome. This can be very beneficial when
developing new relationships because one learns to weigh the good with the bad and determine
whether certain relationships are positive or negative. This theory can help with preparing for
future relationships, as well as improving present ones because it can help an individual to make
choices that will ensure and increase in productivity and positivity. However, social exchange
theory assumes that everyone is rational when making choices and calculating the outcome of
relationships when in reality they are not. Values and rationality vary from person to person
making it difficult to decide the costs and benefits.
The family ecology theory is my favorite, emphasizing more on relationships, how the
family is effected by different environments, and how they can improve and maintain
homeostasis. Not only does it explain how different environments affect families, but it also
shows how those individual families can influence the wider environment as well. Initially used
to refer to the adaptation of plant and animal species to their physical environments, these
concepts were later extended to humans and their physical, social, cultural, and economic
environments (White and Klein 2002), ( Strong & Cohen, 45). It is very interesting to learn how
the family adapts and evolves, and through this theory I have realized how much it applies to my
own family. There are many environmental factors that are often overlooked because of the
unknown effects. Being able to identify what things affect the family in the world around me will
help me to understand how to make the conditions better and how to adapt in order to have a
happy and healthy family experience.
References
Strong, B., & Cohen, T. F. (2014) The marriage and family experience. (12th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

You might also like