Join Our Groups
TOPIC 6: FAMILY
Rights
and Responsibilities of Family Members
Family members have rights depending on their status in
the family. For instance, parents have rights like bearing, guiding and advising
children. They are also free to teach community values to their children and be
respected by their children.
On the other hand, children have rights to basic and
other needs such as food, shelter, clothes, education, health-care, rest and
leisure. Their opinions are also supposed to be heard, they are to be given
names and be registered, live with their parents, be protected from harm and be
treated equally without discrimination.
Family Stability
This is the situation where the family is firm, steady and not changing or disturbed in any way. In a
stable family, there is trust, respect, harmony and good behaviour.
Responsibilities
of Family Members
A responsibility is a duty or a job someone has to do,
and would be blamed if one fails to do it or does it wrongly. Each family
member has his or her own duties for the benefit of the family and
the community at large.
1. Father
In most African societies, the father is the head of the
family and therefore has more responsibilities than others. Such responsibilities
include:
1. Making decisions for the family and organizing family
activities.
2. He also provides security and requirements for family
members like food, clothes and good shelter.
3. Additionally, he teaches children customs and
traditions of their community and maintains family discipline and peace.
2. Mother
The mother always assists the father in maintaining the
family. But in some societies, the mother plays a significant role in day-to-day family matters. The
responsibilities of Mother include:
1. She is the closest assistant and organizer of family activities.
2. She also gives birth and cares for both her husband
and children.
3. Lastly, she is a bridge of love between parents and
children as well as maintains family stability.
3. Children
Children are an important component of the family and
nation at large. The children in the family are responsible for the following:
1. They are good assistants in domestic work and in take
care of younger siblings.
2. They are a bond of love and joy in a family.
3. They have to respect parents and elders, and learn
from them.
Consequences of Failure by Family Members to Carry out Their Responsibilities
1. Lack of basic needs. This is because children cannot
get basic and other needs if their parents fail to work hard.
2. It can also lead to family conflict, family breakdown and children becoming street kids.
For instance, frequent misunderstandings cause quarrels and consequently, the
absence of peace and security to family members.
3. Finally, family instability may be witnessed
aschildren may acquire bad habits and create trouble in the society.
THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY
A family is a social group of people who are closely
related to each other. It consists of a father, a mother and children.
Sometimes, a family may include relatives who are not blood related. A family
is entitled to protection by society and the state because it is the foundation
on which a society is built.
Types
of Families
There are several types of families in our societies but
the most dominant ones are the following three, namely nuclear, extended and
single-parent families.
1. THE NUCLEAR FAMILY
This is made up of a wife, a husband and one or more
children. This type of family is very common in Europe.
Advantages
of the Nuclear Family
It is advantageous to have a nuclear family because:
1. It requires fewer resources to sustain itself as it
constitutes fewer members which in turn reduces their total cost of living.
2. Also, the family is manageable and controllable due to
its small size and usually is economically stable.
3. It is easy to enforce changes (decisions) and arrive
at a conclusion.
4. There is also a clear distribution of authority within
the family because it consists of two parents as heads of the family.
|
| Nuclear Family |
Disadvantages of a Nuclear Family
Having a nuclear family is disadvantageous because:
1. It may develop a spirit of selfishness and discrimination is confined to few people.
2. Individualism may also result in these families.
3. Lastly,it is difficult for children to learn
from other people. As a result, they can easily be influenced by their parents’ behaviour and attitude.
2. EXTENDED FAMILY
This is a family which consists of a wife, husband, children
and other relatives such as cousins, grandparents, uncles and aunties. This is
very common in Africa.
Advantages
of the Extended Family
Having an extended family is advantageous because:
1. It promotes unity and solidarity among relatives.
2. Theyalso make it easy to perform difficult or complex projects which need many people, like
large-scale farming or pastoralism.
3. There is also an easy distribution of tasks as there
are many people to carrythem out.
4. Extended families involve more opinions from different members of the family when it comes to
decision-making.
5. Therefore, it is a symbol of love and fraternity to
people of a common culture, race, history and even clan who live together in
one home.
 |
| Extended Family |
Disadvantages of the Extended Family
Extended families are disadvantageous because:
1. They are difficult to maintain as they
require many resources.
2. Also, decisions on matters concerning family can be difficult to make as concessions from different family members are needed and must be considered.
3. Additionally, they may be a source of poverty as a
majority of the family members are dependents.
4. It may create laziness and a parasitic syndrome among
some family members, because they may lack strict answer ability when it comes
to undertaking duties.
3. SINGLE PARENT FAMILY
This consists of only one parent and achild or children.
This occurs when one parent dies, couple’s divorce or one becomes a guardian of
children born out of wedlock.
Advantages
of Single Parent Family
Single parent families are advantageous as:
Single parent families are advantageous as:
1. Children quickly learn to earn a living as they are
not well supported at home.
2. They also tend to work much harder in order to earn a
living.
 |
| Single Parent Family |
Disadvantages of the Single Parent Family
Being in a single parent family may be disadvantageous
because:
1. A parent faces a financial burden to maintain the
family, which may lead to the problem of street children if the parent is
unable to provide for them.
2. Children may also miss full parental care, which might
affect them psychologically
3. In addition, children may not have a role model if
either the father or the mother is missing.
4. A child’s sense of identity may suffer particularly sexual identity.
5. Finally, lack of access to education and a better life
in general may be witnessed.
The
Importance of Family
Family is very important because:
1. It provides a healthy atmosphere in a home where children
are born and reared.
2. It also provides social services to the community as
it is the nucleus of the community and transmits good social values from one
generation to another.
3. Additionally, families enhance love and solidarity
among people - especially in those living in an extended family.
4. Families also help people perform different tasks at the same time. Such tasks cannot be
performed by an individual. For instance, a mother does the cooking while the
father chops firewood.
There are several factors which contribute to family
stability. For example,
1. Love within the family may lead to the family members
cooperating well with each other in all aspects of family matters.
2. Respect and good behavior play a great role in family
stability. If family members value each other in the family and other people in
the community, they create harmony in the society.
3. Trust and peace are other factors for family
stability. If a family avoids conflicts, family members
create trust and enjoy comfortable life, hence, family stability.
Importance
of Family Stability
Family stability is important because:
1. It enables family members to participate in
socioeconomic activities, such as studying and working hard for the well-being
of the family and the nation at large.
2. It ensures that family members engage in good habits
and activities, which in turn reduces incidences of crime in a country.
3. Family stability is also a basis for peace and stability
in acountry because peace always begins at the lowest level.
4. Also, family members may feel free to participate in
environmental conservation by planting trees and avoiding any kind of
pollution. As a result, children may be encouraged to start their own families
and Consequently ensure the lineage or continuity of the family.
Foundations of a Stable Marriage
A stable marriage exists if:
1. There is an agreement of marriage and a shared goal to
be achieved between the couple.
1. Love, respect and co-operation between couples and
2. Good relationships with people outside their marriage
are very important components of a stable marriage.
3. Furthermore, economic well-being as a result of hard-work
and trust between couples is a vital component for a stable marriage.
4. Responsibility and accountability - whereby both the
husband and wife are responsible for their duties in the marriage can be considered
as foundations of a stable marriage.
5. Lastly, transparency, tolerance and understanding play
a great role in making a stable marriage where peace and security prevail.
BEHAVIOUR
Behaviour can be
defined as all the actions and reactions of objects or
organisms, usually in relation to their surrounding environment. Human behaviour
implies one’s actions, manners and attitudes towards other people. Normally, people’s
behaviour fall within awide range with some behaviour being common, some
unusual, some acceptable and some unacceptable depending on the limits of
acceptability.
However, the acceptability of behaviour in certain
societies or communities depends on theculture's norms, customs, taboos and
traditions. Therefore, some behaviour may be accepted in a given society
according to the people’s norms, traditions and customs. To be accepted in the
society, ones behaviour should conform to its special morals and ethics. The
behaviour of someone is reflected in the way he or she talks, eats, plays and lives
with others.
Types
of Behaviour
There are two main types of behaviour, proper and
improper behaviour, as explained below:
1. PROPER BEHAVIOUR
This is the kind of behaviour that is acceptable to all
members of afamily, community and society. Examples of proper behaviour are
cooperation, solidarity, love, generosity, charity, helpfulness, kindness and
being responsible. Therefore, proper behaviour is taught according to the norms
of a given society.
Elements
of Proper Behaviour
There are a number of elements indicating proper
behaviour, which include:
1. Love, peace and security among people
2. Respect for the law and rules guiding the society
3. Cooperation
4. Polite language when speaking to other people
5. Being responsible
6. Participation in community activities
7. Payment of taxes and duties
8. Respect for oneself, others, property and authority
9. Knowing and doing what is morally right
10. Obedience and effective communication
11. Honesty, i.e. always telling the truth and never
cheating
12. Adhering to instructions
 |
| Proper Behaviour |
The Importance of Proper Behaviour
1. Proper behaviour helps to reduce crime and evil in
asociety.
2. It also brings a culture of unity and cooperation in
order to solve various problems, hence bringing about family stability.
3. Furthermore, a peaceful environment stimulates
economic development in the society.
4. Proper behaviour also helps to develop a sense of love,
respect and solidarity among community members and the society at large.
5. Lastly, it contributes to the stability of government
and the state in general.
2. IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR
This is the kind of behaviour that is not morally acceptable
to afamily, community and society at large.
Elements
of Improper Behaviour
There are a number of elements indicating improper
behaviour, these include:
1. Unlawful acts such as killing and stealing
2. The use of abusive language
3. Love of violence
4. Aggression, feelings of anger and hatred that may
result into threatening or violent behaviour and boasting
5. Segregation
6 Arrogance, incivility and rudeness.
7. Excessive drinking of alcohol
8. Irresponsibility
9. Immorality
10. Corruption, dishonesty and disobedience
11. Indiscipline
 |
| Improper Behaviour |
Causes of Improper Behaviour
Improper behaviour is caused by:
1. Moral deterioration
2. Drug abuse
3. Lack of discipline
4. Poverty.
5. It can also be caused by wealth superiority (wealth abuse)
6. Excessive alcohol drinking and bad peer groups,
especially among the adolescents.
Consequences
of Improper Behaviour
1. Improper behaviour can result in misunderstandings in
a family, community or institution.
2. Also, the number of commercial sex workers and other
crimes can increase in asociety due to improper behaviour.
3. Moreover, loneliness due to discrimination, increased
number of dropouts/dismissals/expulsions and poor performance of students in
their studies may be witnessed because of improper behaviour.
4. Finally, improper behaviour can lead to inability to
overcome various problems and causing family unrest.
5. Early marriages and adolescent pregnancies
6. Spread of HIVIAIDS
7. Divorce and frustrations
8. Deterioration of health or death due to over drinking,
and drug abuse can also be a consequence of improper behaviour.
Measures
to Correct Improper Behaviour
Several measures can be taken to correct and reduce
improper behaviour.
1. For instance, adherence to family planning education
and religious teachings, such as God’s commandments.
2. We can also correct improper behaviour through law
enforcement, punishing law breakers, e.g. thieves, bandits and corrupt people.
3. Discourage the importing and use of drugs (e.g.
marijuana) which are harmful to one’s health.
4. Lastly, parents should be careful to teach their
children good and acceptable conducts.
5. Through providing civil education and employment to
the youth so as to reduce the rate of poverty, which can also be helpful in
correcting improper behaviour.
 |
| Educating Children |
Other Types of Behaviour
The following are basic types of human behaviour:
1. Assertive: this refers to strong expressions intended
to make other people recognise one’s rightful authority. It also refers to
doing something by behaving confidently. It relies on honest, direct and
appropriate expression of needs, wants or feelings as a first resort.
2. Avoidance: this is used to avoid any confrontation.
People practice avoidance because of possible consequences or because one does
not wish to be bothered by the consequences. Avoidance can be exercised in many
ways, refusing to get a diagnostic test, not answering a phone/or a letter to
certain people or avoiding making any contact with them.
3. Submissive: this is also known as accommodating
behaviour, which reduces the anxiety, guilt or fear in others by letting its
own views or thoughts be misconstrued, ignored or taken advantage of.
Submissive behaviour is instilled in children by parents, school and society.
It can lead to building up resentment, leading to an aggressive outburst.
4. Aggressive behaviour: this refers to behaving in a threatening
way, and always ready to attack. This type of behaviour offends or tramples on
someone else’s rights. It is a showing of anger. Sometimes, aggression can be
an expression of fear, lack of self-esteem or the inability to control a
situation in any other way.
5. Appropriate behaviour: this achieves necessary and
desired goals without infringing the rights and the needs of others. For
instance, maintaining healthy eating habits, showing satisfaction for a
service, and not annoying others.
RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING
Decision Making is a
process of thinking to select a course of action from among many alternatives.
A person can, through voting, decide who should be his/her leader. Again, one can decide whom to get married to and when. One can
also decide when to start a business or which course to take in a college.
On the other hand, Responsible Decision Making is
the process of making the choice after considering all options available
through a particular criterion.
Decision making is a continuous process in life. It helps
in the development and management of material and human resources. It is the
situation in which a person, who makes a decision, is accountable and takes the
blame for the bad outcome of the decision. It happens when each member of the
society feels obliged to participate in the formulation of policies, organising
and developing resources to realise societal goals.
The power to make decisions is given to people who do
certain tasks, like planning, formulating national policies or organising
family matters for the betterment of the society. It depends greatly on
experience, feelings, cognition, sensing, judgment, reasoning, instruction and
sometimes the level of education and a person’s profession.
 |
| Decision Making |
Rational Decision Making
This involves reasoning and critical thinking before
making decisions. It implies making a healthy decision. Skills needed to Make
Healthy Decisions. In making a healthy decision, there are clear steps to be
followed so as to realise the intended goal.
We propose seven steps as shown below:
1. Define the problem/identify the problem. We should ask
ourselves if there is a problem and how we can solve it correctly. Also, identify
the importance, urgency and magnitude of the problem so as to determine the
resources needed to solve it.
2. Generate possible solutions/alternatives
3. Generate the criteria for assessing the objectives.
Ask yourself: am I measuring the right thing? Find out if the merits outweigh
the demerits of each alternative.
4. Select the best solution/alternative, especially when
the merits outweigh demerits. The decision made will be a healthy one.
5. Implement the chosen alternative.
6. Evaluate the success of the chosen alternative.
7. Modify the decision and actions taken, based on the
evaluation done in step six.
Levels in decision-making
The Levels in Making Decisitions
There are three levels at which decisions are made, the
family, community and national level.
1. Family Level
The members of a family (i.e. parents and children) are
involved in making decisions on different matters. But in most cases, parents
are the main decision makers because of their age, experience and authority. Some
decisions, especially those which touch directly on the interests of children,
must involve both children and parents.
For example, if a father wants to buy something for his
family, he must first seek the child’s willingness and preference before buying
it. Therefore, it is important for family members to ask and respect each other’s
opinions before making decisions.
2. Community Level
Decision making at this level can be made by the people
who are in power. These are people who have been given authority to make plans
on behalf of other members of the community. On the other hand, some decisions
are made by the whole community. The community members gather to discuss some matters,
such as building hospitals, schools and roads.
3. National Level
At this level, broad decisions are made, and important
national issues are decided upon. There are some organs which share in making
national decisions, these are: the parliament, which makes laws; the executive,
which implements the laws and policies of the country, and the judiciary which
interprets laws and see that justice prevails in the country.
 |
| Decision Making |
Importance of Making Responsible Decisions
It is important to make responsible decisions because .
1. It ensures the careful use of the limited resources
for the betterment and development of the society.
2. It also helps to build a sense of commitment to
decisions made on behalf of the people.
3. Responsible decision brings a sense of making a
collective effort, as one element of a democratic society.
4. Finally, it develops a sense of equality and freedom.
Factors
Influencing Behaviour
Factors which affect human behaviour are as
explained below:
1. Influence of parents - Patenting styles influence the
behaviour of children. Some characteristics are inherited by children from
their parents, which influence behaviour, such as bravery, anger or aggression.
Aggressive parents may influence their children’s behaviour. On the other hand,
kind parents may transmit kindness to their children.
2. Peer groups - Some behaviour are acquired by individuals
from peer groups. These groups are found in schools, at workplaces, clubs and
other places where people of the same interest and age meet, who may have
different behaviours.
3. Influence of technology - Changes in technology,
especially, communication technology, plays a major role in molding the behaviour
of people, especially adolescents. Adolescents and children imitate and adopt a
lot of things from the internet, videos, television, magazines and books.
4. Lack of employment - When people lack employment, they
tend to get involved in improper behaviour such as robbery, rape, theft, drug
abuse and smoking bhang
(marijuana) or using some illegal drugs.
 |
| Peer Groups |
EmoticonEmoticon