Family Living 120

1
Family Living 120

• Functions of the Family

2
The Socialization Function

• Socialization is the process by which children
  learn to become human and adopt certain behavior.
• The early socialization of children is almost
  entirely dependent on the family unit.

3
Feral Children (Isolates)

• Several studies have shown that without
  socialization children will not automatically
  learn to speak, read, write, and have normal
  human functions and feelings.
• There have also been several of these children
  found in recent history which have proven this.
  These children were incapable to communicate and
  acted no different than a wild animal.

4
Parenting and Family Socialization

• Parents and siblings alike play key roles in the
  development of new children within a family.
• Speaking, morals, values and culture are all
  instilled by the family (predominantly the
  parents, but also siblings).
• Communication is vital within a family to create
  healthy and normal children.

5
The Economic Function

• At one time, children were seen as a source of
  labor to be used on the farm, or to be sent off
  to factories to work to help provide for the
  family.
• As times changed, and we became a more affluent
  society, this trend began to dwindle.
• Children now are expected to go to, and graduate
  high school and then move on to secondary
  education or to the workforce and move out of the
  house.

6
The Boomerang Generation

• Boomerang Generation is one of several terms
  applied to the current generation of young adults
  in Western culture, born approximately between
  1975 and 1986. They are so named for the
  frequency with which they choose to cohabitate
  with their parents after a brief period of living
  alone - thus boomeranging back to their place of
  origin. This cohabitation can take many forms,
  ranging from situations that mirror the high
  dependency of pre-adulthood to highly
  independent, separate-household arrangements.

http//www.citynews.ca/news/news_4081.aspx
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomerang_Generation
7
The Reproductive Function

• Simply stated this is the process of individuals
  having children and creating new families.
• Birth rates are declining in the Western world.
• In Canada we have a rapidly aging population
  (Baby Boomers) and rely on immigrants to bring
  down the median age.

http//www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/0610
26/dq061026b-eng.htm
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The Sexual Function

• A healthy sexual relation is also pivotal between
  the parents within a family.
• At one time, a wife would have expected to
  constantly be pregnant throughout the marriage
  (until menopause).
• Now, with modern contraceptives this is not
  nearly as common. However, what was once a major
  reason not to have extra-marital affairs, these
  contraceptions now perhaps make it more possible.

9
The Emotional Function

• Psychologists argue that the emotional support
  within families is a huge function of the family
  as well.
• Without this support, children may end up with
  possible mental health issues.
• The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates
  that 20 of Canadians will experience a mental
  health issue in their life.

10
Textbook Questions

• In pairs, read pages 6-12 and answer questions 1-
  4 on page 12.
• We will then have a class discussion about the
  questions and you will be asked as groups to
  provide your answers.