CHAPTER 11

Family Structures and

Legacies
UNIT 9

Personal Development
 Activity 1
Instruction: Describe the photo in one word.
 lesson objectives
• Differentiated family structure and
type of care you give and received as
an adolescent.

• Demonstrate understanding on the

Genogram.

• Shared current and ideal family

structure and legacies.
Family Structures
and Legacies
“HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS”

The family has always been the basic unit of society

according to sociology. Our development as individuals is
greatly affected and influenced by it. From the perspective of
psychology, genetic and environmental influences within the
family contribute to such development. As each individual is
unique, we also see how each family is unique from others.
That is another way of looking at the uniqueness of each
individual member in the family.
 DIFFERENT FAMILY STRUCTURES AND FAMILY CARE

1. Nuclear Family
The nuclear family has always been identified as the ideal family. This type consists of two parents and
children. This is an ideal setting where the children are raised with a more stable home environment as
parents assure their balanced psychological well-being and emotional stability.
2. Single-Parent Family
A single-parent family comprises of a solo parent raising the children. The parent can either be a father or a
mother who provides financial, emotional, and other basic support to the children. Parenting in itself for this
type of structure is highly challenging as this may mean shares the responsibility and accountability of taking
care of the children. There may also be a need to find someone to provide childcare when the parent is out
earning a living. Since only one parent is earning, the family may experience greater financial burdens.
 DIFFERENT FAMILY STRUCTURES AND FAMILY CARE

3. Extended Family
The extended family is a structure comprised of two parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents or non-relatives
living together under one roof. For some Filipinos, having an extended family is a product of financial difficulties faced
by one or more extended members. Hence, they opt to live together to support each other. Allowing them to join the
family may mean more hands to share in the housework but will also mean incurring more expenses.

4. Stepfamily
A stepfamily refers to two families being merged together due to the marriage of a parent of one family to
another. Thus, the new family is comprised of the husband; wife, and children from previous marriages or
relationships. Both may be products of separated marriages or the death of the previous partner. In other
countries, over 50% of marriages end up in divorce or separation.
DIFFERENT FAMILY STRUCTURES AND FAMILY CARE

5. Grandparent Family
A grandparent family is a type of family structure where grandparents take on the role
of parenting and nurturing the children. There can be varied reasons why this happens
such as death of the children's parents, abandonment, or the parents being unfit to
provide for their children. For this arrangement, grandparents may pressure to provide
financial assistance to the children which may lead them to continue working even
after they retire.
 The Genogram
A genogram is a pictorial display of a person's family relationships and
medical history. It goes beyond a traditional family tree by allowing
the user to visualize hereditary patterns and psychological factors that
punctuate relationships. The genogram was first used and made
popular in the clinical setting by Monica McGoldrick and Randy
Gerson. A therapist can use a genogram to draw out information about
families, number of children, birth order, deaths, vices, and behavioral
disorders among others. This would help adolescents understand
themselves even more.
The Genogram
 FAMILY LEGACIES

 Each of us have legacies passed from our ancestors, from

generation to generation such as culture, traditions, and
customs. No matter who we are, where we live, we have one
ting in common-heritage.
This heritage is transferred to us by our parents whether good,
bad.
The heritage is also called legacy , and this could be passed to
us socially, emotionally, or spiritually.
 FAMILY LEGACIES

 Transferring positive legacy to children is a delicate and important task of

adults in the family. It helps dictate the future progress and development of a
child.
 It is important to remember that passing on a spiritual, emotional, and social
legacy is a process, not an event. If parents do not intentionally pass a legacy
consistent to their beliefs, culture will pass along its own, often leading to a
negative end.
 Parents are responsible on the process; God is responsible for the prosuct.
 PARENTING STYLES

Along with different types of family structures are different parenting styles which
parents apply to effectively handle or run the household. In a published book by
D. Nicholson and H. Ayers, titled Adolescent Problems in 2004, patterns of
parenting styles are the following:
 Authoritarian
 Permissive
 Authoritative
 Rejectibg/Neglecting
 PARENTING STYLES

 Authoritarian- parents who are depending on force to control their children.

Parents using this style tend to have high expectations of their children and set
house rules which should be strictly followed.
 Permissive- or nondirective parents are those who do not consistently enforce
rules and do not have high expectations of their children. They are more of a
friend than a parent.
 PARENTING STYLES

 Authoritative- according to Baumrind, authoritative parenting involves a child-

centric approach where parents hold high expectations for their children but also
send necessary support and resources in order for their children to succeed. In
addition, she added that children of authoritative parents can exhibit good social
skills, are self-confident, and show happy disposition in life.
 Rejecting/Neglecting- “uninvolved parenting”. This categorized as lacking
responsiveness to a child’s needs where parents show bare emotional attachment
to their children. They impose few or no demands and seen to be neglectful or
indifferent.
 Plans on How to Make
Family Times, a publication of New
Family Members Firmer and
Mexico University states that Gentler with Each Other
communication is the key to healthy family
relationships. In communication you will be
sharing your ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
However, much of human interaction or
communication is nonverbal, using facial
expressions, eye contact, body language, or
any overt behavior of an individual.
 Plans on How to Make
The following are some of the things that parents of
teenagers may need to do according to Family Times:
Family Members Firmer and
Gentler with Each Other
1.Be honest with them.
2.Talk with them.
3.Listen to them without judgment.
4.Respect them.
5.Support them at home and in school activities.
6.Spend time with them.
7.Make them understand body and emotional changes.
8.Honestly discuss love, sex, and relationships.
9.Be good role models about responsible relationships.
10.Openly discuss peer pressure, drugs, and alcohol.
 Plans on How to Make
Ways of Improving Family Relationships
Family Members Firmer and
The following are some of the ways for improving Gentler with Each Other
family relationships:

 Communicate
 Learn to appreciate
 Share activities
 Be committed
 Show support to each other
 Accept each member as he/she is.
 Reflect
What significant insight or learning can
you derive from the lesson? How will
you apply this as an adolescent?
 Activity 3
Complete the following sentences with the first idea that comes
to mind.

1. My mother is usually angry if I

2. As a family we are more concerned about
3. My aunts and uncles are generally to me.
4. My family is generally
5. My dream for my family is
 Instructions:
• Provide a recent family photo. (If you don’t have, you can search a family

Asynchronous picture on the internet that represents your current family structure).
• Identify your family structure.

Activity • Write the names of each of the family members below the photo. (Much better
if you will describe them through their appearance on the picture).
• In a short paragraph, describe your family.

Process Questions:
• What family structure do you currently have?
• What are your family’s social, emotional, and spiritual legacies?
• How these legacies completely affect you as an adolescent?
• In the near future, would you prefer to have the same family
structure you have right now? Why?