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This is the second of two papers which report on a survey of 600 articles related to marriage and the family. The articles were published in 12 journals between 1962-1968. This paper deals primarily with 444 of the articles which were based on empirical data and focuses on approaches to the family as a researchable unit, current trends and problems and prospects in the area of family study. Findings include: uneven attention to component parts and minimal attention to the family as a whole. Frequent use of data collection techniques which involve minimal contact with the family, increased use of very large and very small samples, increased use of longitudinal studies, and more efficient use of data through application of a wider range of statistical techniques were also noted. The predominant use of static variables as independent variables and dynamic variables as dependent indicates little progress in viewing the family as an institution which shapes its own course as well as that of other institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the conventional treatment of family harmony and conflict, in a consensus-equilibrium framework, is discussed and judged inadequate. Instead a view of the family as a system in conflict is suggested as an alternative and more fruitful theoretical approach. The major premises underlying such a frame of reference are briefly outlined. Its theoretical implications for the study of the family are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Framing this paper is the question: what research problem and hypotheses suggested by symbolic interaction theory give promise, if pursued, of significantly advancing the sociology of the family? The problem delineated revolves around the concepts of identity and commitment. After explication of a set of premises and needed refinements in concepts basic to symbolic interaction theory, a number of hypotheses are offered. These purport to account for the position of identities in a salience hierarchy and tie identity salience to role performance. Finally, it is noted that these hypotheses could profitably be studied in the research setting of responses to first pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disability of the breadwinner has serious consequences for the family. In addition to severe economic problems, such families experience a disruption of roles and strained interpersonal relations. This paper is concerned with the variations in structure of families with a disabled breadwinner. Family types were constructed utilizing age, sex, and marital status of the disabled person in addition to presence and age of children and generational factors as important dimensions. The distribution of a disabled population of breadwinners among these family types is presented. Factors believed to bear an influence upon family structure are introduced: sex, age, race, size of community of residence, and severity of disability. This paper is a step toward bridging the gap in research between theoretical models of family structure and empirical reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contains an exposition of the types of family statistics derived and published annually from the Current Population Survey of the Bureau of the Census. The authors discuss the Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS) in terms of its relevancy and value to sociologists interested in the field of family studies. Recent improvements in data collection and processing techniques, as well as a discussion of the wide range of social and economic variables relating to family studies and obtainable from the CPS for the national population are presented. it is pointed out that the CPS is, and can be, an important source of recurring family data for supplementing independent research in many related fields. The Census Bureau's household and family projections program is discussed and a brief demographic sketch of the family in America in 1970 is offered as an illustration of the nature of the data currently available in the CPS programs and the "Current Population Reports" publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper surveys the recently emerging fields of marital and family therapy in terms of their developments in research, theory and clinical practice. The parallel, but unrelated, developments of these two fields are described. A system framework was developed for categorizing the various clinical approaches in marital and family therapy. Neither field has yet developed a solid theoretical base nor tested their major assumptions or principles. However, both fields have recently become more concerned about conceptual and methodological issues. Several ways of bridging the professional gap between therapists and researchers are suggested. Recommendations for interdisciplinary borrowing are indicated and exemplary projects giving new direction to the fields are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of ten studies related to the Jamaican family indicates that all of the samples tended to come primarily from rural-lower-class Jamaicans. The studies were completed during the 1951–1959 period and were conducted mostly by non-West Indian investigators. The findings of the studies are examined, and some critical analysis is made, which includes some historical background of Jamaican society. References are made to present-day, middle-class Jamaican families, and the many gaps in research in this area are noted. A comprehensive analysis of the lower-class family by Raymond Smith is included in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to contribute toward the explanation of why some people do and others do not engage in emended familism, i.e., participate in the network of their kinsmen. First, we shall take recourse to two independent variables familiar to the sociologist: the rural-urban continuum and ethnicity. Then we shall see whether or not we can make the observed correlations disappear when we control for socioeconomic status and for migratory status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last two decades there have many advocates for interdisciplinary work between the fields of history and sociology. Despite favorable arguments (listing the advantages of collaboration) and the founding of committees and journals (aimed at aiding or initiating cooperation) a number of writers have noted the aloofness of both fields and the lack of any real commitment to interdisciplinary work. But with an increasing interest in the study of family history over the last decade by both historians and sociologists there does seem to be an opportunity, and to some degree a necessity, for an interdisciplinary effort between these two fields. The focus here is upon one area of family history that has recently received much attention from both fields- the colonial American family. Both disciplines are involved in a restoration of the colonial family which, in the process, is providing the beginnings of an interdisciplinary effort. The presentation of the results produced up to this point and the problems arising in the restoration process are reviewed with the expectation of stimulating further comparable research and collaboration. A growing knowledge and appreciation of the works, concepts, and techniques of both fields should enable meaningful efforts in the future between the two disciplines. The result will be, for this particular area of study, a more precise image and better understanding of the colonial family system. This should eventually lead to a clearer understanding of familial change and societal change, in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the family theory beginning from the year 1950. Harold Christensen says that the systematic study of the family has gone through three grand stages. The first included the latter half of the 19th century and called it Social Darwinism. The second encompassed the first half of the 20th century and was named Emerging Science. Finally, he designated 1950 as marking the beginning of the era of Systematic Theory Building. The present study may be viewed as a progress report on the second decade of the theory building era in the field.

The article reviews family sociology literature which is based on demographic or population data to base certain conclusions. The author discusses three reasons for the growing interest in family sociology and demography; those reasons include the theory that family units utilize natural interpersonal communication, interest in the observable effects of family dynamics on population growth and trends, and the growing amount of sociological literature on the family life cycle. The author provides several sources for further research into family sociology.

The article discusses the social orientation of children. The authors analyse responses from 482 sixth graders to establish characteristics determining peer versus adult orientation. The findings suggest that children who are peer-oriented tend to conform to undesirable social sub-groups out of necessity, which the authors argue is the result of parental passive neglect. The effect of peer groups on the socialization of children is examined, as well as interpersonal relationships among children within a classroom setting.

The article presents information about the "Journal of Marriage & Family." Last year the journal profited from a polling of its readers by Lee Axelson as part of a study. The journal was too sociological. The journal also seemed to be full of jargon and obscure technical discussions.

As divorce rates continue to climb in North America, we find no emergent normative setting to help alleviate extramarital sexual problems within the marital relationship. Although we are faced with increased opportunity to participate in extramarital sexuality, we are still confronted with old and often dysfunctional normative settings to accommodate problems which arise in extramarital sexual expression. A survey of three dare sources, courtroom cases, survey data, and clinical cases, suggests that in general males are heavily socialized in instrumental and aggressive ways. Violence in family conflict seems to be more usual than commonly thought to be the case, in part due to male socialization, heavy individualism, and female passive-aggressive input. Data from court cases and survey data suggest strong male norms of aggressiveness as culturally appropriate, inhibiting good male-female relations at many levels. Those seeking alternatives to conventional marriage enjoin the struggle in the hope of establishing more rational modes of heterosexual interaction: their struggles are often confounded by past socialization, intrusion of sex-seekers, and ambiguity and difficulty with structuring new norms. Means to achieve more rational adaptations are discussed and include recognition of where we are and use of social science knowledge to further humanistic possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an attempt to add empirical relevance to some of the theories which pertain to relationships between types of family and forms of social stratification. In addition, it makes new contributions to this segment of sociological theory. Using a worldwide sample, it was found that there is a relationship between these two variables. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the lineal family is positively associated with complex systems of social stratification. In addition, the current theory—that the independent family is associated with complex systems of social stratification—is refuted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An examination was made of the relationship of soda! origins, educational level, and career mobility to the timing of marriage, timing of initial childbirth within marriage, and family size. Data were analyzed from samples of engineering and science graduates from a large midwestern university. For 11 of 16 analyses of covariance conducted, there were overall significant F's and interaction effects. With continued exposure to higher education, there appeared to be rather pronounced deferral behavior regarding marriage and childbearing. While career mobility had some effect on fertility behavior, the effects were not consistent across all levels of social origins or for both professional groups. The relevance of these findings for two views of the mobility /fertility process was discussed. Finally, the adequacy of the focus on family size as a test of the mobility/fertility process was brought into question once again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of structural differentiation, defined as the capacity of a social system to process a diversity of information types, is explored by means of 13 measures in a sample of rural Mexican families. The measures, ranging from conventional level-of-living indices to scales of food consumption and participation in fiestas, are shown to be interpretable in terms of differentiation. A principal-components analysis demonstrates the presence of one main factor, although one other, called farm continuity, also appears. The differentiation concept is contrasted to cognate terms and a reinterpretation of the classical industrialization-conjugal family association is offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the influence of reference groups on a student's decision to go to college and on other areas related to post-college expectations. This analysis describes a sample of women students at a private college in the Middle East. Basic conclusions are: 1) both parents are perceived by their daughters to play a very important role in the educational and occupational aspirations of their female children who go to college; 2) relatives including sisters and brothers are not perceived as a significant factor in providing direction for the college plans of students; 3) friends, teachers, and other adults are consistently overlooked as a source of guidance and support in reference to college plans; 4) the dominance of the family does not require a complete subordination of the individual; self-assertion is particularly noticeable in areas a direct concern to the student; and 5) the above patter remains the same when differences in socioeconomic and other social characteristics are considered. Theoretically, the continued reliance on the family as a primary group not permeated by the influence of secondary groups implies the solidarity of the nuclear family in the Middle Eastern society. Furthermore, membership in a group which has involved deep-seated attachments cannot be easily forgotten or destroyed. The result is very likely to be that of a great deal of dependence on family ties and bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shares an author's reflections on his encounters with Professor Ernest Watson Burgess and his contributions to the field of marriage and family. The author was first introduced to Burgess as student, and took regard for his interest in delinquents and their families and other fields of similar interest. They developed a professional working relationship. The author was intrigued by the productivity of Burgess' perceptions and conceptualizations. In Burgess' thinking about the family, he pointed out the way the family itself appeared to collapse in areas where the community lacked supporting institutions and norms. The author asserts that Burgess should be credited with an early and vigorous presentation on the countervailing emphasis on the necessity to see the family and its members as continually expanding and changing processes and products of social interaction.

‘Family relationships,’ a term appearing throughout professional literature, carries meanings which range widely from the specific ‘interaction’ or ‘process’ to the general ‘association.’ If more consistently defined, it might serve as a useful concept within several frameworks of family theory. Implications for communicating the relationships concept through teaching or counseling are indicated. The total relationship provides a perspective for diagnosing and solving problems in various areas of family life. Pre-professional education is needed to help teachers or counselors to be themselves, to use their own personalities in effective relating. Commitment of individuals to expanding circles of interpersonal relationships is called for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An upper-middle-class Protestant family was studied over three generations. Joint interviews were conducted with all couples at the parent and grandparent generations. Each family's interactions were observed in a structured task situation and at dinner. The taped interviews and interaction situations were analyzed for behavior transactions between family members by using an empirically derived classification system. The interviews were also analyzed for perceptions of self and others. The four variables which appeared to be significant for the transmission of interacting and relating patterns in this family were: ordinal position, husband-wife choice, cultural impact, and conscious and unconscious motives originating within the individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical analysis of the questionnaire responses of 1,079 white college students reveals substantial differences in the romantic orientation of males and females. Females are found to have more romantic experiences than males, even when age is controlled. The difference is reduced, however, with ‘closeness to marriage’; in fact, the reported figure for females undergoes a reversal. Sociologically, this reversal phenomenon is attributed to a directedness in female romantic orientation for which there appears to be no male counterpart. The implications of this sex difference are discussed in terms of current mate selection theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proneness to value bias of methodological theories involving nominal concepts is discussed and illustrated by references to family and other research. The dangers of making unwarranted assumptions and of reifying theory are emphasized. An outline is presented of steps necessary to avoid such problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the views of the author on the Seventh World Congress of Sociology to be held in Varna, Bulgaria, on September 14-19, 1970. The congress will provide sociologists from different countries an excellent opportunity to exchange their professional experiences and discuss family traits, structures, changes and trends in various societies.

The article presents information on professor Robert F. Winch, who has received four E.W. Burgess Award for his significant role in family research. The U.S. National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) honored Winch with the award at the 1968 Annual Meeting of the NCFR in New Orleans, Louisiana. Winch dedicated his career for the study of family sociology and is presently working as professor of sociology at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The article also includes information on some of his important works on the sociology of marriage and the family.

The article presents a list of books. The include "Your Children's Teeth," by Theodore Berland and Alfred E. Seyler, "A Grain of Sand: Poems for Young Readers," by William Blake and published by Franklin Watts Inc., and "Canadian Society: Sociological Perspectives," edited by Bernard R. Blishen and published by St. Martin's Press.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one on the importance of rational policy in the areas of mental health, overall health, the economy, education, and housing and another one on teenage parents.