Topics related to characteristics of mother/daughter relationships in contemporary patriarchal societies are discussed in this seminar paper. The first section describes cases intended to illustrate ways patriarchal social structures limit contemporary mother/daughter relationships, provides a brief historical contrast, and suggests possible…

This paper outlines a family systems model for treating incestuous families and discusses strategies for working effectively with families who remain intact after disclosure or who attempt to reunite after a separation. This systems model suggests that incest results not from intrapsychic problems of the victim or the offender, but from a pattern…

Existing evidence on family violence rates by age and race as well as the available data on race and physical elder abuse incidence rates suggests that because such data are not based on random or representative samples and tend to reflect a "sampling artifact" of the particular client populations served by the professionals surveyed,…

The main purpose of this essay is to articulate a conceptual framework for early mental development. The content of the essay is based on a review of psychoanalytic literature and includes an attempt to integrate preverbal developmental data with the constructs of psychoanalytic theory. The view is taken that object constancy and the capacity to…

Intergenerational conflict has always existed, but it is increasing as life spans increase. Generations of older adult children now coexist with a sizable older parental generation. The major task of coping with intergenerational conflict involves four major tension areas: (1) distance and closeness; (2) submission and dominance; (3) connectedness…

This paper discusses the extent, distribution, and consequences of socially isolated mothers. First, the author considers what are likely to be the negative effects of isolation on both the emotional and physical health of mothers, and the resulting implications of these effects for the primary prevention of a wide range of emotional and physical…

This manual describes the operation of a shelter facility for victims of domestic violence and is based on the program developed by the Community Crisis Center in Elgin, Illinois. The introduction discusses ways to organize concerned individuals; steps are then given for gathering information and resources, and acquiring real estate, equipment,…

This collection of conference proceedings contains the opening speeches, committee reports and resource papers on four topics: promoting the integrity of the family; meeting the minimum needs of the family; the role of self-preservation and promotion of the family; and intervention techniques of social workers in favor of rural and urban families.…

A comparison of divorced single-parent fathers (N=33) and divorced single-parent mothers (N=38) found the two groups comparable on several variables: place of residence, race, age, number and age of children, religion, reported mental problems, and alcohol and drug usage. Fathers were somewhat better educated, had higher incomes, and tended to…

A behavioral intervention program for child abusers was evaluated using multiple outcome criteria. Families were assigned to treatment (N=8) and control (N=8) on a first-come basis. All families were supervised by protective services and none had requested help voluntarily. A treatment program involving group parent training in the clinic and…

FOR THE LOWER CLASS NEGRO MALE TO BE RESTORED AS HOUSEHOLD HEAD, AS THE MOYNIHAN REPORT RECOMMENDS, HE MUST OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT WHICH PERMITS HIM TO BE THE ONLY FAMILY BREADWINNER. CONSIDERING THE DISTINCTIVE HISTORICAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE NEGRO FAMILY HAS HAD TO FACE, AND THE WEAKENING EFFECTS OF ITS MATRIARCHAL ORIENTATION, AMONG NEGROES FEMALE…

The associations between growing up in a family disrupted by divorce and the interpersonal orientations of young adults were investigated in a survey of white college students (N=1720). The majority of subjects (89%) came from intact homes. Subjects from divorced families (N=106) had a more external locus of control and felt lonelier than those…

Currently researchers are reexamining the validity of viewing alcoholics outside of their most important social unit: the family. However, a review of the current research shows little directly addressing how communication patterns influence and possibly sustain alcoholic behavior within the family setting. One study suggests that alcoholism and…

A study of children living with only one parent revealed that these children achieve less and present more discipline problems in both elementary and secondary schools than do their two-parent peers. The study, conducted by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the Institute for Development of Educational Activities,…

This collection of 11 articles focuses on various kinds of change that children face, and ways that adults can help nurture the development of coping strategies. Situations of change covered are crises of death, divorce, imprisonment, or hospitalization of family members, new environments such as entering school, the birth of a new sibling, and…