Families TodayChapter 3: Family CharacteristicsChapter Summaries with Key Terms and Academic VocabularyChapter SummarySection 3.1 Family Structures The form that family life takes is called the family structure. A family's personality is made up of traits that combine to make a family unique. It affects and is affected by many factors. These include family atmosphere, boundaries, decision making, and goals. It is important for families to be interdependent. There should be a balance of independence and dependence among each family member. Families shown in the media often have little to do with the lives of real families. Section 3.2 Family Development Most families go through predictable stages of family development. The family is started by a couple. When children are added, the couple moves to the parent stage. This includes the expanding stage, during which more children are added. The development stage is when children are growing up. The launching stage comes when children leave the home. The final two stages are the middle and retirement years. This pattern is general. There are many variations of these stages Content and Academic Vocabulary
Academic Vocabulary minor autocratic cycle circumstance |  |
