THE FAMILY
The family is seen as a group of individuals who are specifically related by blood,
marriage, adoption or some other factor. As a group the family shares a common
household, supporting and maintaining each other, socially, economically and emotionally.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILIES
An individual is born with certain characteristics, which he/she inherits from his/her parents
and other ancestors, through some particles called genes. The genes are responsible for the
individual inheriting from parents and ancestors characteristics such as, skin colour, blood
type, texture of hair and the potential to be tall, short, heavy or light.
In addition families may have the following in common:
i. Common surname, iv. Traditions
ii. Resemblance, v. Recreation
iii. Same religious belief,
An individual can trace ancestry, relationship and descent of all members of his/her family by
the use of a family tree.
A family tree is a genealogical table that shows an individual 's ancestors and his/her own
relative position in the family.
GROUPING OF FAMILIES - TYPES AND UNIONS
Families fall into different groups, which are called types of families.
The Nuclear Family- consists of parents and their own or adopted children living together in
one home. The parents of this family type are either-
1. Married - that means that they had a legal ceremony or one sanctified by a religious
leader, who is a marriage officer. This is a legal union.
2. Unmarried - no legal contract or formal marriage is entered into. This is a
consensual or common-law union.
The Extended Family -consists of the nuclear family living together with their kin. One
form of extended family may include the grand parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and
nephews. This family type may also be called a multigenerational household.
The single parent- one parent or the lone-parent may be as a result of:
Death of one parent.
Divorce.
Separation.
Deliberate choice of one parent e.g. mother or father not marrying the other partner,
but deciding to rear the child by herself or himself.
The Sibling Household-This household is one in which siblings live together without
parents. The eldest sibling is usually in charge.
The "Visiting Type" Family Union-In this type of extra-residential or visiting union, the
man and woman live in their own family homes. The man visits the woman at intervals.
In most cases children are born out of this union. The advent of children could lead to a
formation of a common-law union or marriage, or the woman would continue to live without
a permanent spouse.
FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
The are six basic functions of the family. Without these functions, the society cannot survive.
SOCIAL: The family generally creates the kind of environment in which different skills and
disciplines are learnt, which are essential for us to function in society.
The process by which individual are taught, through a system of roles and values is known as
socialization.
BIOLOGICAL: The family reproduces or procreates. This ensures the continuation of the
human race. The family legitimizes the mating relationship and satisfies the couple's sex
needs without social disapproval.
CULTURAL: The family passes on the beliefs, customs, traditions and their way of life from
one generation to the other. The family serves the function of cultural transmission.
ECONOMIC: Some family members providem income to satisfy the basic necessities such
as food, clothing and shelter for the family. Parents in most cases are the sole breadwinners.
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL: The family provides an atmosphere of security and
affection, which is essential to the mental, intellectual, and social well-being of all members
of the family. Human beings are social animals, which need proper and adequate amounts of
love, attention, and affection in order to develop into stable and well-adjusted beings.
EDUCATIONAL: The foundation of a child's education begins within the family, the first
words that a child learns come from within the family. Even though the school educates the
child formally, the family contributes to the informal education of the child. The family's
assistance generally continues throughout the period that the child attends school.
