Toward a Theory of Family Development

The family development approach in sociology, though part of the literature for over 30 years, has remained chiefly at the descriptive level. It is contended that the basic reason for this lack of theoretical development has been the failure to derive a specific conceptual framework from which a theory might be formed. Following Zetterberg's model, for the development of axiomatic theory, a set of basic and derived concepts is interrelated and interdefined in such a way as to form a conceptual framework. It is maintained that the framework proposed is applicable to family systems other than the American middle-class ideal type. Specific implications of the proposed framework are outlined. The steps remaining before a theory level is reached are the operationalizing of the framework and the development and testing of specific propositions based upon it.