FAMILY DYNAMICS (THEORY)

Paper Code: 
25HHD122
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
645.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course will enable the students to:

  1. Understand the goals, significance and functions of marriage
  2. To understand the concept of family , parenthood and parent child relationship
  3. Analyze family life cycle.
  4. Evaluate problems related to family and women.
  5. Remember social structure.

 

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment

Strategies

Course Code

Course

title

25HHD 122

 FAMILY DYNAMICS

Student will be able to

 

COHD7 : Explain the concept and approaches of family dynamics and Identify the macro-level changes in Indian families.

COHD8 : Appraise the role of kinship and society on personality development and the impact of family life education on families.

COHD9 : Assess problems of  and its related problems, readiness, adjustments, and counselling.

COHD10 : Elaborate the alternate forms of marriage and identify the reasons and characteristics for their formation

COHD11 : Discuss the factors, status, problems, laws, and interventions related to women.

COHD12: Contribute effectively in course specific interaction

 

Approaches in Teaching:  Interactive Lectures,  Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation,

 

 

Learning activities for the Students:

Relevant books, papers – students read, collate and make presentations on selected theme

Quiz. PPT, Group projects, assignments, CA test , Semester End Examination.

 

9.00
Unit I: 
Family
  • Definition of family from different perspectives.
  • Families across different cultures
  • Approaches to family study-
    • Development approach
    • Interactional approach
    • Institutional approach
    • Structural functional approach
    • Systems approach
  • Changing structural and functional aspects of Indian family.
  • Family life cycle and their developmental task

 

9.00
Unit II: 
Personality & Society
  • Kinship: Types of Kinship, degree of kinship, range of a kinship system, kinship descent,  kinship usages, kinship and their influence on the child.
  • Society: Structure- rural & urban, modern society and its influence on the family.
  • Personality and society - Inter-relation, cultural influences on human personality and social behavior
  • Family life education.

 

9.00
Unit III: 
Marriage
  • Marriage -Concept, need, importance
  • Readiness for marriage- physiological, social, psychological, economical etc.
  • Adjustments in marriage- sexual, economical, in- laws, parenthood
  • Problems in marriage- desertion, separation, divorce, widowhood and remarriage.
  • Marital  and pre-marital counseling

 

9.00
Unit IV: 
Changing Trends
  • Effect of modernization on marriage.
  • Employment of women and family conflict & adjustment
  • Generation Gap and adjustment
  • Alternatives to marriage – co-living, living single, child marriage, group marriage, lesbianism and gay culture.

 

9.00
Unit V: 
Issues & Interventions
  • Status of women- Demographic, political, social, educational, economic, legal.
  • Factors influencing status, roles and responsibilities of men and women.
  • Problems of women- Dowry, suicide, health, women and mass media, sexual exploitation, women criminals, prostitution, eve teasing , rape.
  • Woman and the Law: Legislation pertaining to marriage, property, Hindu-marriage act, Hindu succession act, Anti dowry act.
  • Intervention and relief programs- family violence, battered women, child maltreatment, sexual abuse, separation and divorce, mother employed outside.

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Patel, T. (2002). (Ed.). The Family in India: Structure and Practice. New Delhi: Sage.
  • Georgas, J., Berry, J. W., van de Vijver, F. J. R., Kağitçibaşi, Ç., & Poortinga, Y. H. (Eds.). (2006). Families across cultures: A 30-nation psychological study. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511489822

 

References: 

SUGGESTED READINGS:

  • Macionis,J.J. (2006). Sociology. Delhi: Pearson.
  • Sonawat, R. (2001). Understanding Families in India: A Reflection of Societal Changes. Unit for Family Studies, TISS (1991). Research on familieswith .problems in India: Issues and implications (Vol. I). Bombay TISS
  • Research on families with problems in India. Bombay. TISS. 5. Shrivastava.N.(Ed). 2010
  •  Strong B., DeVault.C & Cohen T.F. 2011. The Marriage and Family Experience- Intimate Relationships in a Changing Society (11 th Ed).
  • Roopnarine, J. L. (2000). Kakar's psychoanalytic interpretation of Indian childhood: The need to emphasize the father and multiple caregivers in the socialization equation. International Journal of Group Tensions , 29 (3-4),
  • Selin, H. (2014). Parenting across cultures: Childrearing, motherhood and fatherhood in non-western cultures. Springer, Dordrecht.
  • Sharma, D. (2000). Infancy and childhood in India: A critical review. International Journal of Group Tensions , 29 (3-4), 219-251.

e-RESOURCES:

 

REFERENCE JOURNALS

 

Academic Year: 
2025-2026
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