Graduation Date
Fall 1984
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Master of Arts
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Paul Crosbie
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. John Gai
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Jerrald Krause
Keywords
Art
Subject Categories
Art
Abstract
The goal of this Master’s thesis in Sociology is twofold. The first goal is to present a description of an emerging form of nuclear family. This emerging family type is the stepfamily which forms after the divorce of one or both adults with children from a previous marriage. This form of nuclear family has many characteristics common to all nuclear families. Transitional crises as they relate to the life cycle changes of the family as well as difficulties establishing workable boundaries and roles are found in many family forms. However, the family of remarriage contains unique structural characteristics which may make the resolution of boundary and role problems more difficult for this family form. Chapter One is a review of the relevant statistical literature on divorce and remarriage. Chapter Two contains a description of the conventional nuclear family from a systems perspective. This includes a discussion of the family life cycle, boundary and role difficulties and family strengths. Because the two-parent family in which neither parent has children from a previous relationship is the conventional, most widely researched family form in America, it serves as the backdrop against which- the stepfamily is analyzed. In Chapter Three, the similarities and differences of stepfamilies and first-married families are discussed. This discussion includes an examination of the factors which might make the successful resolution of boundary and role problems more difficult for stepfamilies. The research on family strengths is applied to stepfamilies. Some unique positive attributes of stepfamilies are discussed in this chapter as well. The second goal of this thesis is to construct a model for doing family therapy which integrates the argument that for all the inherent stress in stepfamilies, there are strengths in this family form. Chapter Four presents a discussion of the utilization and enhancement of the strengths in the family therapy process with stepfamilies.
Recommended Citation
Hallum, Cecilia Giacomini, "Stepfamilies and Stepfamily Therapy" (1984). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2425.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2425