Family Development

Abstract

For each substage of self development, the growing individual’s family should provide the matching fit necessary for optimal passage through the psychological challenges that life engenders. Current models of family development (e.g., Aldous, 1990; Barnhill & Longo, 1978, in Barker, 1986; Carter & McGoldrick, 1989; Combrink-Graham, 1985; Dallos, 1995; Falicov, 1988; Framo, 1994; Galinsky, 1981; Stratton, 1988; deVries, Birren, & Deutchman, 1990; Wapner, 1993; and see Birchler, 1992, and Nichols & Pace-Nichols, 1993, for models of the marital life cycle) are too global, not providing enough differentiation to help in the current search for 25 levels corresponding to the substages of self development. Moreover, the proposed family life cycle changes in these models are usually age-related milestones and not related to the developing person’s psychology, per se (see Table 4.1).