Saad Shaheed

M.S. Clinical and Counseling Psychology - 2 Institute of Psychology Psychological Interventions and Counseling Needs 25th February, 2013

Family Developmental Theory Families, like individuals, move over time through successive stages. Each stage has tasks critically important and somewhat unique to the stage. Accomplishment of the stage related task (s) provides the means for appropriate and satisfying development for individual family members. Failure to achieve a task may stultify further individual and family development. As with all stage theories, family development is undoubtedly more a continuous process, but dividing the process into stages helps one to see the tasks more clearly. A. Universal Stages; 1. Leaving home. a. Task -Relinquishment of the family origin as the major emotional (and economic) resource. A greater sense of autonomy and independence. b. Task -A broadening of support in peers (friends), more serious dating, education or training, and occupational/career development. 2. Marriage. a. Task Investment in the spouse as the major emotional resource. b. Task Establishing a mutually satisfying marriage relationship (interdependence). c. Task - Finding a fitting place in the kin network. d. Task -Developing common expectations about parenthood and adjusting to their realities. 3. Birth of the first child. a. Task -Having, adjusting to, and encouraging the development of the infant. Developing an effective relationship with the infant as Father or Mother. b. Task -Adjusting and maintaining the spouse relationship. 4. The preschool-age family. a. Task -Adapting to the important needs and interests of preschool children in stimulating, growth- promoting ways. b. Task -Cooing with energy depletion and reduced privacy as parents. c. Task -Teaching self control and spontaneity in children. 5. The elementary school-age family. a. Task -Fitting into the community of elementary school-age families in constructive ways. b. Task -Encouraging children's educational achievement and working cooperatively with school personnel. 6. The teenage family. a. Task -Balancing freedom with responsibility as teenagers mature and emancipate themselves. Maintain the relationship with the teenager by listening with respect and clearly stating parental counsel. b. Task -Establishing post-child rearing interests as growing parents; Avocations, Career, etc. 7. Launching adult children. a. Task -Relinquishing young adults into work, military service, college, training, marriage, etc. with appropriate rituals and assistance.
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Saad Shaheed
M.S. Clinical and Counseling Psychology - 2 Institute of Psychology Psychological Interventions and Counseling Needs 25th February, 2013

b. Task -Maintaining a supportive home base. 8. The empty nest family. a. Task -Reestablishment of a more intensive husband/wife relationship. b. Task -Maintaining kin ties with older and younger generations. 9. The aging family. a. Task -Coping with loss including health, job (retirement), loved ones and/or spouse, home, expectations. B. Important Alternative Stages: 1. Divorce. a. Task -Relinquishing the ex-spouse. b. Task -rediscovering self and raising self- esteem. Developing meaningful activities. c. Task -Trusting and investing in others. d. Task -Working with the child's loss. e. Task -Living alone: 1) Psychosocial adjustment, 2) Financial adjustment. f. Task Giving oneself sufficient time. 2. Blending (Reconstitution, Remarriage). a. Task -Appropriate expectations. Self, spouse, children, step-children, Time. b. Task Adjusting to individual differences Obvious Subtle. 3. Relocating. a. If a choice exists, consider: 1) Each family member's needs. 2) What will be gained? 3) What will be lost? b. Task -Relinquishing the old community. c. Task -Developing new "roots." 1) Allow sufficient time. 2) Expect differences. 4. Working outside the home (after a period of near full-time parenting). a. Task -Maintain spouse and child relationships, Quality time, b. Task -Adjust as a family to new roles, new time schedules, new demands. c. Task -Adjust to the world of work: 1) Attention of others. 2) New sense of self (confidence). 3) Value conflicts. 5. Long-term illness or disability. a. Task -Maintain relationships in the new situation. b. Task -Reassess goals and methods of achieving them. Look for strengths. c. Task -Don't hold the funeral prematurely.

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