Marquette University
e-Publications@Marquette
Books by Marquette University Faculty
2012
Perpectives on Family Communication
Lynn H. Turner
Marquette University, [email protected]
Richard West
Emerson College
Follow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/marq_fac-book
Part of the Communication Commons
Recommended Citation
Turner, Lynn H. and West, Richard, "Perpectives on Family Communication" (2012). Books by Marquette University Faculty. Book 60.
http://epublications.marquette.edu/marq_fac-book/60
PERSPECTIVES ON
FAMILY COMMUNICATION
Fourth Edition
Lynn H. Turner
Marquette Un iversity
Richard West
Emerson College
~~onnect
Learn
. , Succeed"
Contents
Preface
Xlll
To the Student
XVlll
PART ONE: PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS
CHAPIER 1 PROVIDING DEFINITIONS
Family Culture 8
Defining the Family 9
Self-Definitions of Family 10
Definition Through Interaction 11
Popular Press Perspectives 12
Voluntary and Involuntary Ties 14
Creation of Boundaries 14
Evolving Time 16
Family Communication Perspective
Defining Communication 18
Axioms of Communication 18
17
Cultural and Demographic Trends Affecting
the Family 21
From Tradition to Transition: Family Types in the
United States 23
Family-of-Origin, Intergenerationality, and Family
Genograms 23
Nuclear Families 26
Gay and Lesbian Families 29
Extended Families 32
Stepfamilies 35
Single-Parent Families 38
Couples 40
Marital and Family Typologies 45
Summary
50
v
Vt
Contents
Key Terms
50
Questions for Reflection
51
CHAPTER 2 PROVIDING THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS 53
The Definition of Theory 56
The Goals of Theory 57
Theories as Tools for Studying Family Communication
Intellectual Traditions 59
The Positivistic/Empirical Approach 59
The Interpretive/Hermeneutic Approach 60
The Critical Approach 60
The Theoretical Assumptions Underlying this
The Centrality of Communication 62
Change Through Multidimensional Time
Influences of Social and Cultural Contexts
Popular Press Perspectives 65
The Family as a Meaning-Making System
Family Theories 67
Systems Theory 67
Social Construction Theory
Dialectics 77
Developmental Theory 81
Tqt
63
64
66
75
Methods of Inquiry 84
Surveys 86
Experiments 86
Depth Interviews 87
Textual Analysis 87
Summary
Key Terms
88
88
Questions for Reflection
89
PART TWO: FAMILY INTERACTIONS
CHAPTER 3 EXAMINING STRUCTURE: ROLES AND RULES 91
Roles and Family Communication 94
Interpreting Family Roles 94
Examining the Assumptions of Roles
96
I
61
57
Contents
Popular Press Perspectives 98
Gender Roles and Families 102
Reflecting on Roles 108
Rules and Family Communication 108
Interpreting Family Rules 108
Examining the Assumptions of Rules 111
Types of Communication Rules 118
Reflecting on Rules 120
Summary
Key Terms
121
122
Questions for Reflection
122
CHAPTER 4 SOCIETAL CONTEXT FOR FAMILY COMMUNICATION 125
Televised Messages About Families 129
Families and Television Viewing 130
Televised Models of Family Communication 133
Early Images of Families on Television 135
Later Images of Families on Television 139
Recent Images of Families on Television 142
Future Images of Families on Television 143
Women's and Men's Movements and Their Influence on
Families 144
Feminism and Women's
Movements 145
The Male Voice and Men's
Movements 151
Continuing Influence of Women's and Men's
Movements 156
Government and the Family 157
Defining Family Policy 158
Marital and Family Rights 158
Child Concerns and Child Care 163
Popular Press Perspectives 166
Summary
Key Terms
167
167
Questions for Reflection 168
Vlt
Vttt
Contents
CHAPTER 5 COMMUNICATING INTIMACY 171
Interpreting Intimacy and Closeness
Culture and Intimacy
174
176
Popular Press Perspectives
177
Explaining Intimacy in Family Communication
The Dialectic Approach 179
Attachment Theory 189
Social Exchange Theory 191
The Circumplex Model 193
Expressing Intimacy in the Family 194
Declarations of Commitment 196
Positive Absolute Statements
196
Private Language 197
Messages of Comfort and Support 197
Playfulness 198
Nonverbal Intimacy and Sexuality 198
Self-Disclosure 199
Summary
Key Terms
179
I
201
201
Questions for Reflection
202
CHAPTER 6 TELLING STORIES AND MAKING MEANING 205
Understanding Family Stories 210
The Family as Subject 211
Sequence of Events 212
Significance 213
Popular Press Perspectives 214
Performance 216
Dramatic Element 217
Fluidity 218
Negotiated Meaning 219
Functions of Family Stories 221
Building Identity 221
Creating Links Among the Past, Present, and Future
Teaching Lessons and Morals 224
Negotiating Dialectical Tensions and Managing
Difficulties 224
223
Contents
Types of Family Stories 226
Courtship Stories 226
Birth Stories 227
Survival Stories 228
Stories on the Margins 229
Other Meaning-Making Practices
Family Theme 231
Family Ritual 232
Family Myth 233
Family Metaphor 234
Summary
Key Terms
230
235
236
Questions for Reflection
237
CHAPTER 7 EXPRESSING CONFLICT, POWER, AND VIOLENCE 239
Conflict, Power, Violence, and
Culture 244
Conflict in the Family 245
Interpreting Conflict 245
Popular Press Perspectives 247
Models of Family Conflict 249
Responses to Family Conflict 253
Power in the Family 257
Interpreting Power 257
Power and Decision Making 259
Decision-Making Processes 260
Factors Associated with Power and Decision
Making 263
Power and Relational Control 267
Violence in the Family 269
Interpreting Violence 269
Assumptions Behind Family Violence
Verbal Aggression 274
Summary
Key Terms
276
276
Questions for Reflection
277
271
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X
Contents
CHAPTER 8 COMMUNICATING UNDER STRESS 279
Interpreting Stress 283
Distinguishing Between Stressor and Stress 283
Distinguishing Between Developmental and Unpredictable
Stressors 287
Assumptions About Stress and Stressors 288
Stressors Are in the Eyes of the Family Member 288
Family Stressors Are Shaped by Internal and External
Contexts 288
Communication Is at the Heart of Family Stress
Management 292
I
Communication and Developmental Stressors 292
Developmental Stressors in Young Families · 292
Developmental Stressors in Growing Families 294
Developmental Stressors in Older Families 296
Some Conclusions About Developmental Stressors 300
Communication and Unpredictable Stressors
Divorce 302
Popular Press Perspectives 309
Homelessness 311
Summary
Key Terms
301
317
317
Questions for Reflection
317
CHAPTER 9 MANAGING CHALLENGING DIALOGUES 321
Religion and Spirituality in the United States 325
Family, Religion, and Culture 329
One Nation Under God 331
Families and Religious Convictions 332
Marriage and Religion 334
Messages About Women and Religion 337
Religion and the Internet 340
Conclusions About Faith and Families 343
Family Communication and Sexuality 345
Sexual Scripts and Sexual Communication
Popular Press Perspectives 346
345
Contents
Sexual Communication and Marriage 349
Sexual Communication and Culture 352
Summary
Key Terms
354
354
Questions for Reflection
355
PART THREE: CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER 10
CONCLUDING PERSPECTIVES ON FAMILY
COMMUNICATION 357
The Future of Family Communication Research 360
Explanations for Family Communication 361
Family Communication in Neglected and Understudied
Populations 362
Work-Life Issues 368
Cultural Discourse About the Family 369
The Impact of Technology on Family Life
Co-Parenting 372
370
Thinking About Family Communication: Four
Conclusions 373
Recognition of Diversity in Family Communication 374
Recognition of the Challenges of Family
Communication 375
Recognition of the Value of Family Communication in
Our Society 376
Recognition of Changing Times 377
Popular Press Perspectives 378
Summary
379
Questions for Reflection
Glossary
G-1
References
Credits
R-1
C-1
Name Index
N-1
Subject Index
S-l
379
Xl