Family Relations

Family Relations

1. Describe what is meant by the term “marriage.” What are some of the benefits of postponing marriage? What are the costs?

Marriage refers to a union that is socially supported and consists of two or more persons in what is viewed as a stable, persistent arrangement that is based typically in par of a given kind of sexual bond. It may also refer to a legal contract or social union that exits between spouses that leads to kinship.

Postponing marriage comes with many different kinds of benefits. It has, for instance, boosted the socioeconomic status of many individuals, more specifically individuals who are more privileged as well as their partners. It has enabled individuals to attain some of their set goals in life. This has greatly assisted in minimizing divorce issues among married couples. This is due to the fact that the couples get married when they are mature enough and financially stable hence being in a position of handling domestic and financial challenges that may lead to divorce.

While delaying marriage is coupled with a lot of benefits, it is also worth noting that it comes with some costs or demerits. For instance, individuals who take too long to before marriage or those who are unmarried, the single ones, have high chances of drinking excessively. This makes them be depressed and hence shows lower satisfaction levels with their lives as compared to their married counterparts.

2. In the United States, there is a significant rate of divorce. Please describe the following: What is the divorce rate, the divorce estimate, or the ratios of marriage to divorce? And finally, which do you think is the most important statistic and why?

Research indicates that there is a significant increase in both the marriage and divorce rates in the US. It further indicates that the millennial individuals have formed a habit of taking too much time before getting married. Nn maintained that this is one of the driving factors that lead to divorce. In the US, the divorce rate is 3.2 for every 1000 population. This kind of method gives the divorce rate based on the generation population and is usually referred to as a cruse divorce rate. Nn claimed that this kind of technique is only significant in describing the change in the divorce rate over a given period of time, but it is not an accurate way of getting the divorce rate. This is because it fails to give exact information concerning the first marriages that ended in divorce. A more accurate take is the divorce rate per 1000 women, which is currently 16.9. Most scholars feel that this is the most accurate method for finding the divorce rate as it covers all aspects of divorce that helps in providing an accurate result. Nn claimed that the divorce rate has increased over time. He further asserts that the divorce rate has increased by about 51% in the US.  Research has given an estimation that 42 percent of first marriages normally end up in divorce, 62percent of all second marriages also end in divorce, while 72 percent of third marriages also end in divorce.

3. In relationships, there are three relationship fault lines that are related to gender. Please identify and describe all three

Understanding the intricacies of gender can make or break a relationship. Attraction, sexual assertiveness, and interaction are heavily reliant on gender and gender roles. These three, related to gender, form the basis of the relationship. Sexual assertiveness ties to a partner’s capability to refuse unwanted sexual advances while also having the capabilities to know what works and being able to go for it. The attraction is the undying feeling of wanting someone in a certain way, for example, mentally and emotionally, while interaction is the involvement of conversation that is the foundation of any relationship.

4. What is social support? Give examples from your own life to illustrate your definition

Social support refers to an individual’s friends and families that they sort for assistance when the need arises or in crisis times. These individuals hence in offering a positive self-image as well as a wide focus. Furthermore, social support helps in boosting life quality and offers a soft landing spot against adverse events in life.  Nn refers to it as an emotional and physical comfort that our friends and families, and even co-workers offer to us at our times of need. It helps us to appreciate that we are part and parcel of a given community of individuals who care and love us. Nn argued that everyone needs to have people who can offer them good support at all times, both the ad and happy moments. It may be a challenging task at times to maintain a healthy network of social support. Individual gets support in varied ways, including emotional, physical, and even financial support. A person may get emotional support when they are told by their partners that they are cared for and that their friends mean good for them. Life experience of emotional support that I have encountered in my life came from friends and families. That is when I got sick, and friends and families kept praying for me and wishing me quick recoveries. This kind of support made me feel part and parcel of the family and friends. Besides emotional support, I have obtained information support from my classmates and teachers concerning how to solve given problems.

5. How do some parents view corporal punishment in more positive ways than others?

 Corporal punishment refers to an intentional pain infliction like slapping, caning, paddling, and spanking to direct punishment to people who commit wrong acts. This kind of punishment is mainly administered to children by parents. Most parents have the belief that corporal punishment assists them in exercising full control over their children. Furthermore, some parents believe that some children can only be put to control via corporal punishment by making use of canes. Nn argued that corporal punishment assists in making kids obedient, respectful, and polite. Some parents reason that children will likely be arrogant and wild in the absence of corporal punishments. Moreover, some scholars believe that it is cost-effective as it does not involve any cost such costs associated with taking the child to court or rehabilitation centers. Only a cane or a belt needs is administering of corporal punishment. This is, therefore, the reason why most parents prefer corporal punishment.

6. What are the three primary adult styles of attachment? Please discuss each of them

Secure attachment

This kind of attachment is portrayed by individuals who portray a positive self-view as well as for others. Individuals who are securely attached are always in agreement with the fats that it is easy for a person to be emotionally close to other people. They feel comfortable at having others depend on them as well as depending on others. This kind of attachment is associated with a history of responsive and worm interactions that an individual has encountered before in their attachments. Securely attached individuals tend to display greater adjustments and satisfaction in their relationships as opposed to other people with other styles of attachments.

Anxious

            An individual with an anxious attachment style shows greater intimacy need as well as emotional closeness. This means that such individuals are in greater need of constant assurance form their close friends and families that they are really loved, cared for and that their friends are readily available at any time for their help.

Avoidant

            This kind of attachment type represents individuals who are extremely self-directed, independent, are, in most cases, not comfortable with intimacy. People with avoidant attachment styles are strong experts at the renationalization of their ways out of any situation. This kind of individuals register complaints concerning feelings such as suffocating when surrounded or gotten close to by people.

7. Describe basic trends in mortality and fertility in the United States. How have you seen these trends play out in your family, and how have they affected you?

The concept of love and companionship has evolved throughout the centuries. What began as a simple need and drive to extend the existence of the human species through reproduction quickly morphed into a cry for companionship and later, a means to satisfy our animalistic need to sate canal needs. In today’s world, many studies are showing that fewer and fewer people are opting for quick hookups instead of full-blown relationships that involved commitment and long-time companionship. Sociologist and the Chair of the Sociology Department at Hopkins, Andrew Cherlin, views that priorities and perception of relationships have shifted over time. He draws from his extensive research, which has focused on the American continent to conclude that there have been drastic changes in the way Americans have chosen to love one another over time.

An understanding of why people are changing partners faster than they are changing clothes can be exclusively attributed to technology and technological advancements. Through social networks such as Instagram and Tinder, finding someone who is ‘not looking for anything serious,’ has been made more than a cakewalk. This phenomenon, which swept the Americas first, has now become a global norm that has transcended the need for human interaction beyond basic canal needs. Peer pressure and the loss of identity are other notable mentions as causes of this footloose behavior. My view on the matter is that technology or not, humanity must slow down if the aim is to make it past this millennia without plunging the entire race in viral pandemics.