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Personal Theory of Family Development Concept & Outline
This paper will address the concept of Family Development. “Each person needs to come
to a better understanding of who he or she is” (Wright, 1977, pg 77). Without understanding who
we are and what each individual needs, no one will truly be able to find happiness. “He who
finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD” Proverbs 18:22 (Bible
Gateway). What is a family? One might ask in our ever-changing society, where one would not
be surprised to find a number of answers depending on who they ask. The definition of family is
not the only question, people need to define what the roles of their family will look like. What
will be expected in terms of housekeeping, bill paying, sex, child rearing, religion, and
retirement life. These are not simple easy questions to define or answer as one couple will
address them according to their believes, while another individual will define them according to
his/her life, not to mention race, sexual orientation, married or single, job, location and age just
to name a few contributing factors. One person will have one set of ideas whereas another will
have their own.
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Outline
I. Introduction: Personal Theory of Family Development
A. Thesis Statement:
II. Marriage and Family
A. Family through history
B. Current conflicts
C. Changes
III. Family Roles
A. Traditional roles within the family
1. Husbands
2. Wives
3. Children
B. Changes in the roles of family
1. Husbands
2. Wives
3. Children
IV. Effects of Religion & Spirituality on the Family
A. History
B. Current timeframe
V. Sexuality and the Family
VI. Parenting and the Family
VII. Later in Life
VIII. Personal Application
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References
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