Family

• Sociological definition of family

  A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption, who share a common household and are dependent on each other
• Ways families are formed

  • By blood (consanguine family)
  • By marriage (conjugal family)
• All families live in households, but not all households are considered families
• Nuclear families


  Composed of both the mother and father living with their child or children
• Definition of "family" in the Caribbean

  • Loved ones
  • Friends
  • Relatives
• Single-parent families


  Consist of one parent living with his or her child or children
• Types of families

  • Single-parent families
  • Nuclear families
  • Extended families
  • Reconstituted or reconstructed families
• Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear families

  • Having role models
  • Not necessarily playing a meaningful role in a child's life
• Reconstituted or reconstructed families

  Formed when two adults who have children from previous relationships come together with their respective children to form a family
• Extended families


  Can be made up of three or more generations living under one roof or two generations of the same family living together, including parents and children, aunts, uncles, and cousins
• Advantages and disadvantages of single-parent families

  • Less supervision leading to independence
  • Risk of unsupervised children
• Advantages and disadvantages of extended families

  • Benefits of shared responsibility
  • Blurred lines of authority
• Advantages and disadvantages of reconstituted or reconstructed families

  • Require a high degree of compromise and consensus