Understanding Family Structures and Their Role in Modern Society

This assignment examines the diverse structures of modern families, differentiating between nuclear and non-traditional family units, and their implications for societal dynamics. It explores the significance of acknowledging non-traditional family structures, emphasizing potential social and psychological impacts. The assignment delves into the role of family system theories, such as Bowen's theory, in understanding individuals within a family context. It highlights how these theories can be applied to social engineering, influencing societal reforms. The assignment references academic sources to support the analysis, providing a comprehensive overview of family structures and their societal implications. Desklib provides study resources for students.

The definition of family that encompasses the present structure of family
Experts of Psychology and social engineers refers to family as a single unit, moving ahead with
similar goals and sharing the burdens of household choirs and other responsibilities to live a
happy life. The present structure of the families can also be defined under the headings of joint
families and nuclear families. Under a nuclear family, husband, wife and their biological kids or
adopted kids stay together. They are also known as traditional families; the advent of complex
relationships has given rise to non-traditional families where single mothers or single parents
stay together with their kids (Sharma, 2013).
The importance of acknowledging non-traditional family structures
Every given society is a small cluster of families that can be divided into four heads, Joint
Families, nuclear families and extended families. When we include all the three types of families
into a social system then it becomes a social support system. Nuclear families can be further
divided into “traditional families” and “nontraditional” families.
The acceptance of non-traditional family can cause isolation for many individuals and force them
to live a miserable life of an outcast. It can cause a lack of social sense in the members of non-
traditional families and force them towards many psychological or social disorders.
Role of family system theories in interaction with modern families
One of the theories promoted by Dr. Murray Bowen identifies a modern family as an emotional
unit. This theory says that an individual cannot be studied in the absence of a family structure
(Ahmad, 2016). Family system theories can give a new outlook for understanding a person.

Social engineers can utilize this impact to design certain reforms in society by addressing an
individual as a part of any given modern family.
Bibliography
Ahmad, N. (2016). Bowen Family Systems Theory and Family DisintegrationIn Tennessee
Williams’s Drama. University of Leicester,
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3916/d8b59896304e30dd9372210ba70978e684d5.pdf.
Sharma, R. (2013). The Family and Family Structure Classification Redefined for the Current
Times. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4649868/.