Search

Family ecology aims at studying the relationship between Man and his immediate environmental surroundings, together with the domestic activities taking place within the family ecosphere, ecological space in all its differing dimensions and then aims at relating these factors to considerations and actions of our future of our ecosystems. For biosocial reasons, the family represents a fundamental ecological unit: genetic and affective links between family members, shared cultural background, social structure, a place where decisions are taken, a place for handing down knowledge and helping young family members to grow... characterised by shifting structures and functions of varying complexity. The family ecosphere is a place in which immediate environmental surroundings and converted habitation spaces are almost permanently created or modified. The family ecosphere is also a cause of larger scale environmental changes. As a part of human ecology, family ecology is a closely linked complement to Industrial ecology. A large range of applications of this knowledge can be envisaged by the numerous socio-economic partners concerned by the family unit in general. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]