PREFACEACKNOWLEDGMENTSABOUT THE AUTHORChapter 1: Family Life Now What Is Marriage? What Is Family? Contemporary Families Families in Cultural Contexts Family Life Education: The Study of Families Through A Family Lens Family Life Education: Strengthening Families Summary Key termsChapter 2: Understanding Families Through Research and Theory Understanding Families Through Research Becoming a Consumer of the Literature Understanding Families Through Theory Family Interactions and You Family Life Education: Creating, Implementing, and Evaluating Effective Family Programming Summary Key termsChapter 3: Family Communication, Conflict, and Forgiveness The Communication Process Communication Between Men and Women Types of Communication Cornerstones of Communication Conflict in Relationships The Role of Forgiveness in Family and Intimate Relationships Family Life Education: Forging Family Strengths Summary Key termsChapter 4: Gender in Today''s Society It Matters: The Biology of Gender It Matters: The Culture of Gender Gender Polarization: Complementary Opposites--Or Inequality? The Theories of Gender Development It Matters: The Agents of Socialization It Matters: Gender and Contemporary Issues Family Life Education: Practicing With Sensitivity and Respecting Diversity Summary Key termsChapter 5: Intimacy: Developing and Experiencing Affectionate Bonds Intimacy: Do We Have a Need to Relate to Others? What Do Intimate Relationships Look Like? The Psychosocial Development of Children Adolescents'' and Young Adults'' Psychosocial Development Obstacles to Intimacy Family Life Education: Valuing Diverse Couple Experiences Summary Key termsChapter 6: Love and Loving Love Is a Cultural and Historical Experience What Is Love, Actually? Companionate Love: Experiencing Love as a Commitment Developing Love Theories of Love and Loving Family Life Education: Relating to Others With Respect, Sincerity, and Responsibility Summary Key termsChapter 7: The Path to Commitment: Attraction, Dating, Partnering, and Cohabitation "Frisky Business": Interpersonal Attraction Theories The Path to Commitment Relationship Development Nonmarital Cohabitation: Living Together Family Life Education: Using Reinforcing Strategies to Aid Couple Formation and Maintenance Summary Key termsChapter 8: Singlehood, Coupling, and Marriage Being Single The Act of Marriage The Transition to Marriage: Why It''s So Tough Satisfying Marriages Family Life Education: Identifying Social and Cultural Influences Affecting the Marital Experience Summary Key termsChapter 9: You, Sex, and Sexuality Learning Sexuality: Cultural Contributions Our Sexual Selves Sexually Transmitted Infections Relationships and Sex Cheating: Sex Outside the Relationship Experiencing Sexual Difficulties Family Life Education: Advancing Healthy Sexual Well-Being From a Value-Respectful Position Summary Key termsChapter 10: Becoming Parents: Choices and Challenges Childbearing Trends: Who''s Having Babies? Having Children: Now, Later, or Never? Being Pregnant and Giving Birth Unexpected Outcomes Adoption: By Circumstance or Choice Contraception and Abortion Family Life Education: Fostering Healthy Family Formation Summary Key termsChapter 11: Parenting Life Now Change Over Time: Parenting Is a Process From Partners to Parents: Making the Transition Today''s Parents Parenting 101: Best Practices for Parenting Family Life Education: Guiding and Influencing a Child''s Development Summary Key termsChapter 12: Family Life and Work: A Balancing Act Working Families: The Transformation of American Homes A Portrait of Contemporary Dual-Earner Couples Couples and Work: Just Trying to Make Ends Meet The Balancing Act: Juggling Family Life and Work Policies for Working Families Marriage and Money Family Life Education: Understanding and Assisting Families'' Decisions Summary Key termsChapter 13: Uncoupling: Relationship Deterioration and Divorce Uncoupling Emotionally Ending the Marriage/Couple Legally Ending the Marriage: The Formal Divorce Avoiding Divorce: Getting a Marriage Back on Track Family Life Education: Educating and Assisting Families Through Transition and Change Summary Key termsChapter 14: Rebuilding: Family Life Following Couple Dissolution and Divorce The Aftermath of Divorce: Transitions How Divorce Affects Children and Adolescents Challenges for Single Parents Transitions to Repartnering Family Life Education: Protecting Children''s and Adults'' Well-Being Summary Key termsChapter 15: Family Change: Stress, Crisis, and Transition Family Change Family Crisis Family Coping and Resilience The Crisis of Family Violence Family Life Education: Providing Knowledge and Skills Summary Key termsChapter 16: Family Life and Aging Aging and the Aged Marriage Experiences Through Aging Intergenerational Ties Family Changes Toward the End of Life Dying and Death Experiences Family Life Education: Removing Barriers and Assisting in Transitions Summary Key termsGLOSSARYREFERENCESINDEX.