Psychology of Family

Recommended Prerequisites

This curricular unit does not require any pre-requisites, both in terms of skills or knowledge.

Teaching Methods

Classes take place using either: lectures, group work analysis / reflection, watching videos, role-play and stimulation of topics previously worked by students in field research

Learning Outcomes

Main objectives:

- Promote awareness around the concept of family and family development, having as theoretical framework the evolution of family life cycle.

- To know the Assessment Systemic Model and understanding of family functioning

- To develop skills of reflection and interview in practical contexts

Theoretical skills, it is aimed that students:

- Know the different moments of the course of family life cycle;

- Are able to identify factors associated with this course and the specific possibilities and difficulties of each stage of the Life Cycle;

- Identify specific problems of in each stage of Life Cycle;

- Recognize the various "forms" of family beyond the intact middle-class family.

 

Practical Skills, it is aimed that students:

- Are able to assess family functioning in real cases;

- Identify, from the analysis of cases, the difficulties and the specific features of real families.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

(In) definition of family: the family household

 2. The Life Cycle of intact nuclear middle class family from the west

3. From developmental pathways to the problems

 3.1. Couple formation

 3.1.1. The construction of "us"

 3.1.2. Couple violence

3.2. Family with young children

 3.2.1. From couple relationship to parenting

 3.2.2. Family of child with chronic / life-threatening illness

 3.3. Family with children in school

 3.3.1. Family-school relationship

 3.3.2. School failure

3.4. Family with teenagers

 3.4.1. The issue(s) of autonomy/ies

 3.4.2. Developmental disorders

3.5. Family with adult children

 3.5.2. The elderly in the family

4. The impact of death throughout the Life Cycle

 5. The transformation of life cycle: the role of women

 6. The life cycle and other forms of families

 6.1. The Life Cycle of divorce and post-divorce family

 6.2. Remarriage

 6.3. Adoptive families

 6.4. Single-parent families

6.5. Homosexual couple families.

Head Lecturer(s)

Ana Paula Pais Rodrigues Fonseca Relvas

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Research work: 50.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Bibliography

Alarcão, M. (2006).(Des)Equilíbrios Familiares. Uma visão sistémica. Coimbra, Portugal: Quarteto.

Alberto, I. (2008). Maltrato infantil: Entre um destino e uma história. In A. Matos et al (Coord.). A Maldade Humana (pp.107-130). Coimbra: Almedina.

Carter, B., & McGodrick, M. (1995). As mudanças no Ciclo de Vida Familiar. Uma estrutura para a terapia familiar. Porto Alegra: Artes Médicas.

Lourenço, M. C. (2002). Conjugalidade e Parentalidade: continuar díade na presença de um terceiro. Psychologica, 31, 25-42.

Relvas, A.P. (1996). O Ciclo Vital da Família. Perspectiva Sistémica. Porto:Edições Afrontamento.

Relvas, A.P., & Alarcão, M. (coord.)(2003). Novas Formas de Família. Coimbra: Quarteto.

Simões, T.A., & Alberto, M.A. (2017). Ciclo vital da família: reflexão sobre as especificidades étnicas e culturais do desenvolvimento das famílias africanas. Psychologica, 60, 71-93.

Walsh, F., & McGoldrick, M. (1998). Morte na Família: Sobrevivendo às Perdas. Porto Alegre: Artes Médicas.