Families' Definition Behavior of Problematic Situations

• Published in: Social forces Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 871 - 897
• Main Authors: Aldous, Joan, Ganey, Rodney
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chapel Hill, N.C The University of North Carolina Press 01-06-1989; University of North Carolina Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adolescents; Behavior; Behavior problems; Children; Communication; Communications; Dysfunctional families; Families & family life; Family; Family members; Family Relations; Fathers; Husbands; Interpersonal Relations; Mothers; Observational research; Parent and child; Parent-child relations; Parents; Personal relationships; Problem families; Problem Solving; Psychological aspects; Social research; Socioeconomic Factors; Telecommunications systems; United States of America; Whites; Wives
• ISSN: 0037-7732; 1534-7605
• DOI: 10.1093/sf/67.4.871

This research examines the factors which influence family definition behavior of problematic situations. Observational data came from 48 white families composed of the natural parents and their ninth grade offspring divided according to social class, wives' employment, and gender of child. Each family examined a series of 27 simulated problematic situations, which they were free to discuss or to skip. The data were analyzed to determine the effect of family background, interpersonal relations and discussion process variables on families' statements concerning definitions of the situations preceding problem solution strategies. The findings of the importance of interpersonal ties for problem definition are interpreted in terms of family interaction issues in the context of the original rationale.