Deck 10: Decoupled Families: Deserted, Separated, Divorced, and Widowed

Question 1

Based on Box 10.1, Divorce Mediation, explain what divorce mediation does and specific issues it addresses.

Answer 1

Mediation encourages clients to understand each other's perspective. The mediator's goals include facilitating discussion, assisting the couple in identifying the real issues of the dispute and generate their own options for settlement. Divorce mediation aims to help divorcing couples arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement that resolves the dispute and encourages future negotiation and cooperation between parents. Typical issues addressed during divorce mediation include, but are not limited to, child custody and access, post-divorce decision-making regarding the children, property division and child support.

Question 2

Explain why the metaphor 'folded families' is more accurate than the metaphor 'blended families.'

Answer 2

Stepfamilies do not blend as much as they "fold" comfortably or uncomfortably, at times remaining lumpy into their new family structure and processes. Individual family members vary in how they adjust to new living arrangements and relationships. The term "blended" is troublesome to stepfamilies and the family studies professionals who work with them. To call complex stepfamily communities blended sets up unrealistic expectations and interferes with successful adaptation to the changes that folded families require which include sometimes allowing for and even celebrating the unique characteristics each family member brings to the new living arrangement. Children and adults in stepfamilies do not lose their identities or loyalties to previous family members.

Question 3

The National Stepfamily Resource Center identified five key areas to stepfamily success. Select three of these five areas and explain how it positively impacts the lives of stepfamilies.

Answer 3

a) Assertive communication,
b) learn to express and process emotions,
c) resist myth of 'one big happy family,'
d) develop new roles for family members, and
e) establish effective communication patterns. (The explanation that follows should be straight forward.)

Question 4

Explain the differences between 'loss orientation' and 'restoration orientation' found in the Dual Process of Bereavement Model.

Question 5

Professor Lieberman, Box 10.2 Widowhood in the 21^st Century, argues that survivors need to go beyond the myths that interfere with finding a new beginning after the death of a spouse. Select three of the six challenges outlined in Box 10.2 and explain why these are crucial to recovery from bereavement.
Suggested Responses:

Question 6

At the beginning of the 20^th century, approximately _____ out of 10 marriages ended in divorce.

A) 1
B) 3
C) 5
D) 7

Question 7

__________________ occurs when one spouse leaves the relationship without the intention of returning.

A) Divorce
B) Separation
C) Abandonment
D) All of the above

Question 8

All of the following are reasons for an annulment EXCEPT

A) One spouse is under age
B) One spouse forced to consent against her or his will
C) One spouse is divorced
D) Once spouse failed to inform the other that he or she has HIV

Question 9

Between 1960 and 2009, the highest rate of divorce occurred in

A) 1969
B) 1979
C) 1989
D) 1999

Question 10

All of the following are conditions that increase the risk of divorce EXCEPT

A) Women over 18 years marrying
B) Premarital birth of first child
C) Chronic unemployment
D) Failure to achieve educational expectations

Question 11

The highest rates of divorce are found among ___________ couples.

A) Non-Hispanic whites
B) Hispanics
C) Asian
D) Non-Hispanic black

Question 12

According to research, couples with high levels of exclusivity of religion may experience __________ risk of divorce than their peers with less religiousness.

A) Less
B) Similar
C) More
D) No

Question 13

For second marriages, premarital cohabitation has _________ influence on marital stability.

A) Negative
B) Positive
C) Neutral
D) No

Question 14

When women worked more hours and earned a higher income relative to their spouse's the risk of divorce ___________ in unhappy, but not in happy marriages.

A) Was unchanged
B) Increased
C) Decreased
D) Decreased then increased

Question 15

Findings from an international study that compared the economic consequences of marital dissolution revealed that couples in dual earner models experienced _________ income decline when compared to those in breadwinner models.

A) Less
B) More
C) No
D) Equal

Question 16

Over half of all divorces involve children under the age of ______.

A) Eight
B) Ten
C) Fourteen
D) Eighteen

Question 17

Multiple post-divorce events and union transitions that further compromise children's well-being include

A) Cohabitations
B) Remarriages
C) Separations
D) All of the above

Question 18

All of the following are myths surrounding stepfamilies EXCEPT

A) Children of divorce and remarriage are forever damaged
B) Children adjust to divorce and remarriage more easily if the biological parent stays in contact
C) Stepfamilies formed after the death are easier than those formed after divorce
D) Successful stepfamilies are like first families

Question 19

According to the National Stepfamily Center and Families With Futures, _____________ is the most accurate metaphor for stepfamilies.

A) Folded
B) Tossed
C) Blended
D) Rolled

Question 20

Most stepfamily statistics reflect _________________ households.

A) Step grandmother
B) Stepmother
C) Step grandfather
D) Stepfather

Question 21

Parenting partnerships include all of the following EXCEPT

A) Non-custodial father or mother
B) Stepfather or stepmother
C) Biological grandparents
D) All of the above

Question 22

__________ and ___________ often play the role of kinkeeping."

A) Mothers and stepmothers
B) Fathers and stepfathers
C) Stepmothers and grandmothers
D) Stepfathers and grandmothers

Question 23

Newer models of bereavement focus on _____ of the loss.

A) Context
B) Circumstance
C) Meaning
D) All of the above

Question 24

Coping with loss, dealing with denial, and resisting change is called _________ orientation.

A) Bargaining
B) Loss
C) Acceptance
D) Restoration

Question 25

Adjusting to changes caused by the death, modifying routines, taking a break from the grief is called ____________ orientation.

A) Bargaining
B) Loss
C) Acceptance
D) Restoration