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1.7: Family Developmental Theory

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    Family Developmental Theory dates back to the 1930s and has been influenced by sociologists, demographers, and family and consumer scientists, as well as others. It is used to explain patterns of change, the dynamic nature of families, and how change occurs within the family life cycle. Family Developmental Theory was originally focused on stages of the family life cycle. According to Evelyn Duvall the stages are as follows. Stage 1: Married Couples without Children. Stage 2: Childbearing Families which starts at the birth of the first child and continues until the oldest child is \(21 / 2\) years old. Stage 3: Families with Pre-School Children where the oldest child is \(2 \frac{1}{2}-6\) years old. Stage 4: Families with Schoolchildren where the oldest child is \(6-13\) years old. Stage 5 : Families with Teenagers where the oldest child is 13-20 years old. Stage 6: Families as Launching Centers. This starts when the first child leaves home and continues until the last child leaves home. Stage 7: Middle-Age Parents which continues until retirement. Stage 8: Aging Families which continues until the death of one spouse. \({ }^6\)

    clipboard_e1f5460de5b37873cdfbd43fad8ac3bf9.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Extended Family System Strain on Maria.

    Theorists found over time that many families did not fit this model. For example many children who had launched had returned to the family home, often with children of their own. Newer models of this theory focused more on the roles and relationships within the family. The theory still focuses on developmental tasks which are the growth responsibilities that arise at certain stages in the life of the family. To be successful, family members need to adapt to changing needs and demands and to attend to tasks that are necessary to ensure family survival.

    The major assumptions of this theory include the importance of individual development but stress that the development of the group of interacting individuals is most important. Developmental processes are inevitable and important in understanding families. Growth from one stage to another is going to happen. Families and individuals change over a period of time--they progress through a series of similar developmental stages and face similar transition points and developmental tasks.

    To understand the family we must consider the challenges they face in each stage, how well they resolve them, and how well they transition to the next stage. The success or difficulty of achieving the developmental tasks in each stage leads to readiness for the next stage. The major criticism of this theory is its lack of ability to account for different family forms, and gender, ethnic, and cultural differences. It isn't culturally relevant or sensitive to other life style choices (e.g., childless families). \({ }^7\)

    1.7: Family Developmental Theory is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.