In this Section:

1) Brief Table of Contents

2) Full Table of Contents

1) Brief Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction to Marriage and Family

Chapter 2: How to Study Marriage and the Family

Chapter 3: Communication, Power, and Conflict

Chapter 4: The Role of Gender

Chapter 5: Friendship, Affection, Love, and Intimacy

Chapter 6: Sex and Fertility

Chapter 7: Choosing a Partner

Chapter 8: Preparing for Children and Parenting

Chapter 9: Family Variation

Chapter 10: Middle-Aged and Aging Families

Chapter 11: The Effects of Work and the Economy

Chapter 12: Family and Social Institutions: Education, Religion, Politics, and the Legal System

Chapter 13: Stress, Violence, and Abuse in Marriages and Families

Chapter 14: Separation and Divorce

Chapter 15: Single Parent Families, Remarriage, and Stepfamilies

Chapter 16: Enduring Marriage and Families: Successful Patterns of Commitment

2) Full Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction to Marriage and Family

Get the Topic: What Defines a Family, and What Are the Historical and Current Trends in Marriages and Families?

Defining Marriage and Family

History of the American Family

Current Trends in Families

Go Global: Major Trends Affecting Families: South America in Perspective

From Classroom to Community: Diversity in Homeless Families

Think Marriages and Families: How Do Different Theorists View the Family?

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: What Is the Meaning of Family?

Perspectives of the Family

Make Connections: Marriage and Family

Chapter 2: How to Study Marriage and the Family

Get the Topic: What Models and Methods Do Social Scientists Use in Assessing the Development of Families?

Family Development Theory

Go Global: Work Stress Increases around the World

Think Marriages and Families: What Theories Guide Researchers in Studying Marriages and Families?

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: What Research Can You Do in Your Own Family?

A Family Worksheet

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Make Connections: Family Changes and Common Factors

From Classroom to Community: Coping with Alcoholism and Domestic Violence

Chapter 3: Communication, Power, and Conflict

Get the Topic: How Do Patterns of Communication, Power, and Conflict Affect Family Life?

Communication

Communication Patterns

Problems and Solutions in Family Communication

Family Power

Decision Making in Marriages and Families

Go Global: World’s Most Emotional Countries

Conflict and Managing Conflict

Think Marriages and Families: What Are the Theories behind Family Interaction?

Adjusting to Divorce: Theoretical Perspectives

Make Connections: Effective and Ineffective Communication

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: How Does Family Therapy Address Issues of Communication, Power, and Conflict?

Marriage and Family Therapy

From Classroom to Community: Helping Families Communicate

Chapter 4: The Role of Gender

Get the Topic: What Are the Differences between Sex and Gender?

Sex vs. Gender

Patriarchy and Sexism

The Process of Socialization

Gender Roles and Marriage: Is It Better for Men than for Women?

Sexuality and Sexual Orientation

The Effect of Sex on Health

Go Global: Women in Belarus

Think Marriages and Families: What Influences a Person’s Gender Role?

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: What Effect Do Gender and Sexual Orientation Have on Individuals?

Violating a Norm

Make Connections

From Classroom to Community: “Boys Will Be Boys”

Chapter 5: Friendship, Affection, Love, and Intimacy

Get the Topic: How Do Friendship, Affection, Love, and Intimacy Affect Marriages and Families?

What Is Friendship?

Hooking Up

What Is Affection?

What Is Intimacy?

Love

Go Global: Culture and PDA

General Theories of Love

Passionate Love vs. Companionate Love

How to Increase Love in Your Relationships

Make Connections: Building Blocks of Successful Relationships

Think Marriages and Families: What Are the Theories behind Love in Marriages and Families?

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: How Can Couples Address Intimacy Problems?

From Classroom to Community: Counseling for Young Spouses

Chapter 6: Sex and Fertility

Get the Topic: How Do Sexual Behavior and Fertility Affect Marriages and Families?

Sexual Norms

Make Connections: Sexual Norms and Cultural Universals

Sexual Behavior and Satisfaction

Extramarital Affairs

Adolescent Premarital Sex

Fertility

Teen Pregnancy

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Go Global: Religious Affiliation and Extramarital Sex among Men in Brazil

Sex Education

From Classroom to Community: Learning to Serve

Think Marriages and Families: What Are the Theories behind Sex and Sexual Reproduction?

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: What Is Sex Trafficking?

Sex Slavery and Sex Trafficking

Chapter 7: Choosing a Partner

Get the Topic: What Are the Historical and Current Trends in Dating and Mate Selection?

Dating

Theories of Mate Selection

From Classroom to Community: Safe Dating

Go Global: Arranged Marriage in India

My Parents Picked My Spouse

Think Marriages and Families: How Do Theorists View Dating and Mate Selection?

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: How Are Couples and Families Finding Creative Ways to Date?

Keeping Dating Fresh

Make Connections: Dating and Mate Selection

Chapter 8: Preparing for Children and Parenting

Get the Topic: What Factors Should Be Considered When Making Parenting Decisions?

Choosing to Parent

Infertility

Fertility Technologies

Contraception

Do Your Homework

Ending a Pregnancy before Birth

Adoption

Go Global: The One-Child Policy in China

Pregnancy and Childbirth

The Transition to Parenthood

Parenting Styles

Parent–Child Relationships

From Classroom to Community: Learning to Serve

Think Marriages and Families: What Theories Describe the Relationships between Parents and Children?

Functionalism

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: How Do People Handle Infertility?

Make Connections Should I Become a Parent?

Chapter 9: Family Variation

Get the Topic: What Types of Families Exist in the 21st Century?

Families in the United States 151

Make Connections: Family Variations, Gender, and Partner Choices

Go Global: A Cultural Universal

Think Marriages and Families: What Theories Are Used to Analyze Family Organization and Relationships?

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: What Family Issues Are Currently being Debated in the United States?

The Gay Blogger and Miss California

From Classroom to Community: A Variety of Families

Chapter 10: Middle-Aged and Aging Families

Get the Topic: What Challenges Do Middle-Aged and Aging Families Face?

Middle-Aged Families

Aging Families

Death, Loss, and Grieving

When Death Is Unexpected

Go Global: Aging and Death around the World

Think Marriages and Families: How Does Aging Affect Individuals, Families, and Society?

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: Can Elderly People Afford Essential Prescription Drugs?

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Make Connections: Intergenerational Relationships

From Classroom to Community: Serving the Elderly

Chapter 11: The Effects of Work and the Economy

Get the Topic: What Are the Effects of Work and Unemployment on Individuals and Families?

Economic Stress

A Family Economic Profile

The Effects of Work on Families

Working Women

Balancing Family and Work

Stay-at-Home Dads

Go Global: Changing Roles for Working-Class Men in Japan

Sexual Harassment

Unemployment

Social Class and Socioeconomic Status

From Classroom to Community: Working with Low-Income Families

Think Marriages and Families: How Does Social Class Affect Individuals and Families?

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory

Discover Marriages and Families in Action: Will Encouraging Marriage Reduce the Poverty Rate?

Make Connections: Financial Stress and Hardship

Chapter 12: Family and Social Institutions: Education, Religion, Politics, and the Legal System

Get the Topic: How Do Social Institutions such as Education, Religion, Politics, and the Legal System Impact Marriages and Families?

Education

Religion

Politics

Go Global: Religion and Japanese Culture

The Legal System

From Classroom to Community: Encouraging the Youth Vote