Understanding the Family Theories

 Scientists commonly create theories to try to understand and explain certain phenomenons. This is not any different when it comes to social scientists trying to understand families. Social scientists use several theories to not only try to understand how families work, but they also use these theories to help them continue their research. The four more commonly used theories on the family are the conflict theory, the exchange theory, the symbolic interaction theory, and the family systems theory. Each theory is very different, but each also has helpful aspects that help in the continuation of family research. I will start off by explaining the conflict theory.

The conflict theory is based on the idea that "all societies are characterized by inequality, conflict, and change as groups within the society struggle over scare resources" (Lauer & Lauer, Chapter 01, p. 22). In family studies, this essentially means that when there are two people in a relationship, they will almost certainly have differences in belief, which will most likely lead to conflict. The conflict theory focuses specifically on social class and gender. For example, if one individual was raised in a higher social class, they will most likely have a different education and different perspectives than someone from a low social class. Gender can also create differences in lifestyle and beliefs. It makes sense that both of these groups can lead to big conflicts in a relationship, which is why social scientists find these to groups to be so important in the study of conflict theory. The next family theory is the exchange theory.

The exchange theory is the idea that individuals will focus on keeping the rewards in their relationships higher than the costs. Rewards are the good things that come out of relationships, which can be companionship, stability, or money. The costs, however, are the downsides in a relationship, which may include time, sacrifice, or it can also include money. Social scientists use this theory to evaluate the situation as individuals in relationships decide whether or not the pros outweigh the cons, and whether or not the relationship is worth continuing. After the exchange theory is the symbolic interaction theory.

The symbolic interaction theory focuses on the choices that individuals make based on their interactions. People will often form beliefs or make decisions based on how positive or negative an interaction was to them. For example, if a girl notices her boyfriend talking to other girls, she may become jealous and assume that he is cheating on her. If her trust is broken based on his interactions with other girls, this could potentially damage their relationship. However, if she confronted him about the situation and he was able to calm her fears, this could reverse any damage and potentially strengthen their relationship. The last theory is the family systems theory.

Unlike the other theories, the family systems theory focuses on the family as a whole. This theory is based on the idea that every family runs on a certain system, which can be based on culture and specific family beliefs. Because of different circumstances and beliefs, each family has its own sets of rules and norms for its system. Some sub-systems include the relationships between the parents, the relationships between siblings, and the relationships between parents and children. Social scientists can study families using this theory by studying the system as a whole, or just by studying separate sub-systems to see how the whole family can be affected. I personally find this theory to be the most interesting to learn about.

From this, you were able to learn the four main family theories. I hope this was interesting, and I would love to hear any thoughts on what you thought about each theory and which one you liked the most! Thank you for reading! :)