Family function refers to the role of the family in human survival and social development. It is the social basis for the existence of families. The term “family function” was first used in sociological research. Researchers believe that since its inception, the family has performed various functions, such as economic function, reproductive function, emotional communication function, rest and entertainment functions, etc., to meet the diverse needs of people and society. The psychological study of family functions began in the 1970s, with family functions being considered as a variable for measuring the overall performance of a family. However, there is currently no international consensus on the definition of the concept.
The theories of family functions can be divided into result-oriented and function-oriented theories depending on their orientation, and they have differences in their definition of family function. (1) Result-oriented researchers believe that the definition of family...
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Shaffer DR, Kipp K (2020) Developmental psychology: childhood and adolescence, 9th edn. Cengage Learning, Boston
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Qinxue, L. (2024). Family Function. In: The ECPH Encyclopedia of Psychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6000-2_756-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6000-2_756-1
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