Modern forms of marriage and family: basic concepts and brief description

Functions of the family as a social institution

The main functions of the family include:

• reproductive, that is, procreation;
• education and training, socialization;
• maintenance and provision of family members (household and economics);
• spiritual and emotional development of family members;
• organization of joint recreation and family activities.

In the modern world, there is a distortion of the work of the family, its dysfunction and degradation as an institution. The current state of the family is characterized as a crisis. The main problems and difficulties include:

• decreased birth rate;
• an increase in the number of divorces;
• devaluation of family values, including in relation to raising children;
• an increase in the number of low-income and single-parent families;
• deterioration in the health of children and spouses;
• changing family roles;
• increase in domestic violence.

Structural and functional changes in the institution of the family have led to a breakdown in the traditional parent-child relationship. There is a decrease in the role of family education. More often, the functions of the family are assigned to other social institutions. Which, in my opinion, is not true and leads to qualitative and quantitative negative changes in society.

Family functioning is in turn influenced by:

• cultural norms and values;
• economic sphere of society;
• demographic changes;
• government institutions;
• physiological processes;
• psychological dynamics of intrafamily relationships.

It is worth noting that no other social institution can fully replace the family. As well as correcting the mistakes, consequences and pedagogical neglect of those generations who grow up during the crisis of the social institution of the family.

Therefore, it is important to talk about what a family should be like for the successful socialization of the child and its other members. And, of course, change the situation.

Main family types

In the modern world, the following main types of families can be distinguished: patriarchal, nuclear, maternal.

• The patriarchal type of family is considered the most common. He assumes that the head of the family is a man. He is responsible for making important decisions regarding the fate of the children, he is the distributor of the family's funds. This phenomenon is quite common today; the dominance of men in many families has not been abolished. In such a family, the wife is subordinate to her husband, and the children are subordinate to their parents. Regardless of whether the spouse works or not, the husband still manages the money, even if his income is less than that of the wife.
• Nuclear families are those families in which parents and non-family children live together. This type of family is characterized by mutual respect and mutual assistance, and this is manifested openly, in contrast to the patriarchal type. Recently, the number of small families has increased. This can happen if one of the spouses in the family has died, or they have divorced. As a result, one parent raises the child or children.
• Maternal. This is a family in which the woman was not married to the father of her children. According to statistics, every sixth child is born out of wedlock. Often such families are created by mature women, for whom the goal is to have a child. Today, a fairly common phenomenon is civil marriage. A man and a woman can live under the same roof for many years, but never register their relationship.

Family types

There are 3 types of families that have different influences on the social development and formation of the child’s personality.

1. Families are close-knit, harmonious, with a high degree of moral orientation. These are socially prosperous families who can and want to raise a child. In case of any difficulties, it is easy to help them.
2. Families are coordinated, but periodically unstable, with an average degree of social and moral orientation. These families are preoccupied with their own internal conflicts, so they would like to raise their children, but they cannot always (it does not always work out). Relationships within the family are tense. Parents make many mistakes, the goals of education are seen vaguely, the methods and means of education are not fully understood and are not used to their full extent.
3. Families are disorganized, conflict-ridden, with a low degree of social and moral orientation. These are “problem” families. Are asocial or antisocial. There are several subtypes of such families: outwardly calm families, volcano family, sanatorium family, illusion family, “third wheel” family, family with an idol, masquerade family.

Prosperous and dysfunctional families

A person’s entire future life is shaped according to how his parents treated him and each other. Parents are constantly open and must monitor themselves every second and be aware of their parental pedagogical responsibilities. Whether they want it or not, the child systematically correlates his parents’ teachings with their way of life.

Based on the type of relationship, we can distinguish prosperous and dysfunctional families. I propose to get acquainted with this material in the form of a table.

According to educational potential

Based on the level of educational potential, the following types of families can be distinguished.

Educationally strong family

The educational capabilities of such a family are close to optimal. Attention is paid to the microclimate in the family, the nature of the relationships between its members and the style of family education that has a beneficial effect on the child.

Educationally sustainable

Overall favorable educational opportunities. Emerging difficulties are overcome with the help of other social institutions, such as schools.

Educationally unstable

The incorrect pedagogical position of parents is characteristic. For example, overprotection, authoritarianism, connivance, etc. But at the same time, this position is easily closed and corrected. That is, the educational potential of the family is great, but the results of education require correction in relation to parents and children.

Educationally weak, with loss of contact with children and control over them

Families in which parents, for certain reasons, are not able to raise their children properly. For example, poor health, excessive workload, lack of education and pedagogical culture. Conflicts as such are not noticed, but there is a constant loss of family influence on children. Often the child goes into an informal subculture.

Within this group, several more types can be distinguished:

• educationally weak with a constantly conflicting atmosphere or aggressively negative;
• marginal, that is, families with any social deformations and deviations;
• delinquent;
• criminal;
• psychologically burdened family.

Family types

Let's look at what families are like. The famous American scientist and sociologist Morgan believed that the family went through certain stages of development, during which the circle of sexual relations narrowed, and connections between family members strengthened. Such relationships include historical types of families.

• Promiscuity. This type of family was characteristic of the lowest stage of development. Sexual relations were not regulated by any norms; there were unlimited sexual relations between all members of society.
• Consanguineous. This type was characterized by group marriage, and sexual relations were allowed between people who belonged to the same generation. That is, a family was formed from brothers and sisters, regardless of the degree of relationship.
• Punalual. This is a form of marriage in which the partners were sisters from one clan and brothers from another clan. This was the first step towards creating a couple's marriage.
• Syndiasmic. In this form of marriage, one man lived with one woman. Upon divorce, the children remained with their mother. For the first time, the real biological father was determined.
• Monogamous. This form of marriage relationship was created on the close bond between a woman and a man. Such a marriage could only be dissolved by the will of the man.

Parental authority

The effectiveness of the family as a pedagogical system and social institution depends on the level of parental authority. Speaking about the authority of parents, I would like to turn to the theory and classification of the great teacher A. S. Makarenko.

The author highlighted true authority, which implies:

• a decent life for parents;
• decent work for parents;
• their behavior;
• their knowledge of the child's life;
• helping a child;
• a sense of responsibility for raising a child;
• civilian parents.

At the same time, Makarenko identified several false authorities that have a detrimental effect on the child and family relationships.

1. Suppression. The child begins to lie, becomes cowardly and cruel.
2. Distance. The family is ultimately of no value to the child.
3. Swagger. The child grows into an arrogant and authoritarian person.
4. Pedantry. The child becomes passive and submissive.
5. Reasoning. The child becomes alienated from the family and, possibly, the entire society.
6. Bribe. Raises an immoral conformist.
7. "Love". Unreal parental love cultivates deceit and selfishness in the child.
8. "Kindness". The same “kindness” brings up an authoritarian and selfish person.
9. "Friendship". Trying to become best friends leads to the formation of a cynical and unprincipled child.

Definition, signs, functions

The definition of family is associated with the concept of universal, unshakable values. The family is a unit of society, a social institution that underlies the relationships between individuals and is the most important instrument for the reproduction of representatives of the human race. A family of any type is characterized by distinctive features:

1. Voluntary desire to create a marriage union.
2. Cohabitation.
3. Joint housekeeping, common life.
4. The desire for procreation - giving birth and raising children.

A married family is a small social group in which members are connected by family ties, feelings, common life, a marriage contract, and legal norms established in society. The Institute of Family Relations and Marriage is endowed with public functions:

• Satisfying the needs of the individual.
• Reproductive – procreation.
• Economic – joint accumulation of material values, improvement of personal well-being.
• Educational – teaching a child the primary skills of behavior in society.
• Emotional and psychological. Supporting your partner, creating conditions for a comfortable life.
• Protective. It is expressed in the physical and psychological protection of family members, in ensuring their financial needs.
• Leisure. Spending free time together, introducing spiritual and aesthetic values.
• Social status. Represents the provision of innate status to family members, which depends on the social status, income level and education of the parents; there is an acquired status, which is due to the personal achievements of the individual.

Distant relatives differ from family in the absence of strong emotional closeness, common aspirations and interests, and shared life, which determines the connection between participants within a small social group.

Pedagogical culture of parents

The pedagogical culture of parents is a separate, powerful factor influencing the style and type of upbringing, and, accordingly, the development of the child. An abnormal atmosphere in the family often contributes to the formation of anger, aggressiveness, deceit, or, on the contrary, isolation, passivity, and timidity. Such manifestations in the child’s behavior indicate a weakening of protective psychological mechanisms.

• An unfavorable family environment and the child’s internal personal negative traits together create loose soil under the child’s feet; he becomes vulnerable to external influence and antisocial behavior.
• Children from disadvantaged families with a low level of pedagogical environment grow up cynical about the world; they are proud of their immoral actions and ignorance of generally accepted values.

I would like to introduce you, dear readers, to the levels of pedagogical culture of parents.

High level

Awareness of the goals and objectives of education

Parents are aware of the goal of education (the formation of a harmoniously developed, socially active personality), understand what areas education consists of, and imagine what personality traits need to be formed at each age stage of the child’s development.

Ability to cooperate with children

The requirements are reasonable, love and severity are in adequate proportions. Relationships are built on mutual respect and trust. Problems are solved together through situation analysis.

Mastery of parenting methods

Parents focus on the child’s positive qualities, provide him with initiative, support independence, encourage introspection and self-education, and teach him to overcome difficulties. Parents and other family members adhere to a single educational position.

Average level

Awareness of the goals and objectives of education

They understand the directions of education, but do not connect them with the main goal. They imagine what traits need to be formed, but do not always correctly associate them with the child’s age.

Ability to cooperate with children

The requirements are reasonable, but not systematic. Parents often take the initiative in solving problems. There is mutual respect in the family, but the parents do not want to move towards cooperation and try to maintain a dominant role.

Mastery of parenting methods

Parents focus on the child’s positive qualities, but do not provide him with initiative, do not prepare him to solve problems, independently overcome difficulties and self-improvement. Sometimes in a family there is a discrepancy in the educational position of parents, grandparents.

Low level

Awareness of the goals and objectives of education

Parents do not know the goals and objectives of education, do not understand the direction, and do not know what traits need to be formed. Sometimes they can imagine these traits abstractly, but not in relation to their child.

Ability to cooperate with children

Children and parents do not understand each other, do not respect each other, do not trust each other. Requirements from parents are of an everyday nature. Parents are not interested in the child's problems.

Mastery of parenting methods

Authoritarian methods predominate: order, instruction, demand, punishment. Parents either suppress the child’s initiative or, on the contrary, provide uncontrolled freedom. They don’t pay attention to the child’s positive traits. There is no single educational concept in the family; the behavior of family members varies from permissiveness to excessive punishment.

Obviously, the higher the level of parental pedagogical culture, the more favorable the relationship is for the family and the child.

By the way, the family may not know the pedagogical subtleties, but by their own successful example they can raise a harmonious personality.

Family status

Women’s marital status can be “single”, “married”, “divorced”, “widow”, “in a civil marriage”, which reflects what place a partner occupies in her life and partially illustrates the history of her personal life. A man's marital status also indicates whether he is married, single, or divorced. Such information is indicated during an interview if a person wants to get a job. Marital status “divorced” means that the woman was in a marriage that broke down.

It is believed that the official status of the family makes its members responsible, obligatory, dutiful, and careful in the performance of official duties. However, in some cases, the marital status of “married” or “married” may be considered by the employer as an obstacle - these are options when the work schedule is not standardized and employees often have to stay at the workplace late.

Basics of family education

Ultimately, the peculiarity of family functioning comes down to 4 components: parental control, parental requirements, ways of communicating with the child and emotional support. But everything is good in moderation.

Parental control

With sufficient control, parents maintain authority in the eyes of their children and are consistent in their actions. Adequate control – prevention of addictions and aggressiveness.

Parental requirements

Adequate demands develop the maturity of children. With the help of demands, parents support their children’s right to autonomy and independence. Helps develop children's intellectual, emotional and social abilities.

Ways to communicate with your child

It is good to use persuasion and explanation. But at the same time, be ready to listen to the children’s arguments and understand their point of view, and discuss all options.

Emotional support

Parents' emotions should contribute to the psychophysiological and personal growth of children. This is possible through compassion, love and warmth. As a result, parents are proud of their child and satisfied with their own activities.

An adequate model of parental behavior: a combination of emotional acceptance and high demands (requirements are clear, consistent, consistent).

Children from such families are distinguished by developed self-control and social competence. They are active, independent, adapt well to school and in communication, are proactive, friendly, and show empathy.

Family traditions

To strengthen the institution of family, it is important for people to have traditions. Previously, they were an obligatory part of family relationships in society, demonstrating moral views on life. In a home where there is a culture of family relationships, children realize the importance and value of marriage.

Family traditions include bedtime lullabies and shared dinners on weekends. This helps the child feel like a significant part; he considers himself more protected and confident.

An important tradition includes birthday celebrations - the child must invite close friends and be surrounded by attention and care. You can create a special ritual on this day - measure height and mark it on a special ruler, set aside a place for annual photographs of the birthday person. If family relationships are in harmony, parents can even make a game out of household chores, which will help instill in the child important skills such as cooking and cleaning.

Role expectations as a regulator of family behavior

Family role expectations are derived from models of family role distribution - traditional, anti-traditional, egalitarian - which are distinguished taking into account gender role differentiation - the distribution of family roles based on gender.
At the present stage, in conditions of violation of the traditional system of family roles and corresponding cultural stereotypes, in most families there is uncertainty in role expectations, which causes psychological discomfort in marriage partners. According to many researchers, in order to optimize family communication and prevent the occurrence of role conflicts, it is necessary to create conditions for the implementation of a wider range of family roles and reduce their contradictions.

We are also talking about the correspondence or inconsistency of family roles with the capabilities of the individual, which is especially evident when the family structure changes.

The transformation of family roles led to a partial or complete transformation of the family behavior of partners.

Finished works on a similar topic

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Typology depending on the main function

Different types of families and their characteristics are a topic that will be discussed further. What other types of marriage relationships exist?

1. Patriarchal family. Its main goal from this perspective is running a joint household and achieving economic well-being.
2. Child-centric family. Here the main task of the couple is to raise children and prepare them for public life. However, often such families cross an unacceptable line when the younger generation turns out to be dependent and spoiled.
3. Married family. Sociologists say that this is the relationship of the future. Its main goal is the emotional satisfaction of the spouses. Most often, such families do not have children and live their whole lives to satisfy their needs and desires.

Traditional Soviet families

It so happened that the older generation, brought up on Soviet values, perceives the family union completely differently than modern youth. Therefore, it is difficult for our grandparents to understand the principles of cohabitation or open relationships. In Soviet sociology, the following types of family relationships are distinguished:

1. Traditional family. In this case, the relationship between spouses is built on the principle of Domostroy. The husband is the head, the breadwinner, providing for the family, and the wife is the keeper of the hearth, ensuring comfort and cleanliness in the house, running the household. Traditional families can include representatives of several generations: parents, a young married couple, and their children. Women, as a rule, do not work throughout their lives.
2. A classic, or as modern researchers call it, an exploitative family. The difference between this type and the traditional one is that both spouses work, but housekeeping still falls on the woman. Hence the collective image of a Soviet woman - tired, tortured.
3. Elite family. Relations between spouses are based on complete equality in financial security, raising children, and household responsibilities.

It is the latter type of relationship in the family that claims the right to be considered ideal.