8 727 Relationships Part 1

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8 727 Relationships Part 1

Assignment 1: Content Review

Directions:

  • Respond to each item. Each response should be concise and 2–3 paragraphs in length.
  • Use MS Word to write your responses, and submit your answers to all three questions in one Word document.
  • Copy and paste each question into the document, so your Instructor can see which questions you are answering.
  1. Briefly summarize what statistics indicate about the first and second birthrates for unmarried college-educated women. Describe at least two reasons for this trend.
  2. Describe what research has revealed on how gay and lesbian parenting influences children’s gender development, personal development, and social development.
  3. Briefly summarize what research has shown about the link between divorce and children’s adjustment, citing at least three specific indicators. Then identify and describe the effect of at least one specific moderator of the link and one specific mediator of the link.

Here are some websites articles to look at:

Article: Bennett, D. (2010, October 24). Johnny has two mommies—and four dads: As complex families proliferate, the law considers: Can a child have more than two parents?. Boston Globe, p. K1. Retrieved from the ProQuest Central database

Article: Bazelon, E. (2009, February 1). 2 kids + 0 husbands = family. New York Times Magazine, 30–36. Retrieved from the ProQuest Central databas

Article: Patterson, C. J. (2009). Children of lesbian and gay parents: Psychology, law, and policy. American Psychologist, 64(8), 727–736. Retrieved from the PsycArticles database.

Article: Lansford, J. E. (2009). Parental divorce and children’s adjustment. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(2), 140–152. Retrieved from the Academic Search Complete database.

Discussion: Children and Families

In this Discussion, you will consider how family structures influence children. Based on the research and your personal experiences, reflect on the following:

  • Do you think there is an ideal family structure for children to grow up within? If so, what does it entail? If not, why not?
  • Do you think this skepticism and fear are warranted? Why or why not?
  • How might growing up in family with a single mother, divorced parents, or same-sex parents (choose one) be beneficial?

With these thoughts in mind, follow the instructions below to post your response to this Discussion topic.

Post a summary of your thoughts on what an ideal family structure for children entails and why, or, why you do not believe an ideal family structure for children exists. Then, describe at least two specific challenges a child raised by a single mother, divorced parents, or same-sex parents might face, including how these challenges might compare to those faced by children raised in two-parent homes. Finally, describe at least one benefit a child might reap from growing up in a nontraditional family. Be sure to cite the Learning Resources to support your thinking.