Chapter Overview

Although conflict is part of every relationship and arises from various sources, people use different methods for dealing with it. Conflict can be constructive and destructive, in which case it can have very negative effects on children. Most families have to adjust to various crises or drastic changes in their lives. There are three stages in their adjustment to the crisis: onset, period of disorganization, and reorganization. One type of family crisis involves infidelity. Involvement in extramarital affairs occurs for a number of reasons and can be a crisis for the single person as well as the married couple. Marriages are affected in different ways but are most threatened by affairs that include emotional as well as sexual involvement. Marriages can be enriched in a number of ways. Economic distress is another type of crisis faced by many families. Associated with both physiological and psychological distress, it has a far-reaching impact, including increased possibility of divorce, poor communication, disharmony, and stress. Coping strategies for economic distress are avoidance, reduced expenditures, alternative sources of income, borrowing, and support from friends, family members, social agencies, and others. Family violence, both verbal and physical, is a type of family crisis that tends to perpetuate itself across generations. Either men or women can be abusers, but due to greater size and strength, men are more likely to inflict injury. Some male abusers seek control over their spouse/partner. Child abuse takes the forms of attack and neglect. There are various treatment approaches for spouse and child abuse. Incest is the most prevalent form of sexual abuse of children, with cousin and sibling incest relationships being most common. Intervention is difficult, partly because the problem is frequently shielded from authorities. Death of a family member is another family crisis and is among the most stressful of life's events. There are various circumstances of death, with middle-aged people being most fearful, especially of uncertain death. There are five stages of adjustment in certain death, as identified by Kübler-Ross, and three phases of the dying process, according to Pattison. As described by Hiltz, grief has three stages.