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IGNOU ASSIGNMENT GURU (2017-2018)

B.S.W.E-4
Introduction to Familiy Life
Education
Disclaimer/Special Note: These are just the sample of the Answers/Solutions to some of the Questions given in the
Assignments. These Sample Answers/Solutions are prepared by Private Teachers/Tutors/Authors for the help and guidance
of the student to get an idea of how he/she can answer the Questions in given in the Assignments. We do not claim 100%
accuracy of these sample answers as these are based on the knowledge and capability of Private Teacher/Tutor. Sample

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answers may be seen as the Guide/Help for the reference to prepare the answers of the Questions given in the Assignment.
As these Solutions And Answers are prepared by the Private Teacher/Tutor so the chances of error or mistake cannot be
denied. Any Omission or Error is highly regretted though every care has been taken while preparing these Sample

university.

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Answers/Solutions. Please consult your own Teacher/Tutor before you prepare a Particular Answer and for up-to-date
and exact information, data and solution. Student should must read and refer the official study material provided by the

Note (i) Answer all the five questions.

(ii) All questions carry equal marks.

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(iii) Answer to question no. 1 and 2 should not exceed 500 words each.

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Q. 1. What is family life education? Discuss the objectives and importance of family life education.

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Ans. Defining Family Life Education: The premier professional organization in the U.S. for Family Life
Educators, the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), explains Family Life Education this way: “Family

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Life Education is the educational effort to strengthen individual and family life through a family perspective.

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The objective of Family Life Education is to enrich and improve the quality of individual and family life.”

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Parenting classes, pre-marriage education, marriage enrichment programmes, and family financial planning

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courses are a few examples of this human development profession.

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According to the Federation of Family Planning Associations, Malaysia (FFPAM) Family Life Education to

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youths is really essential. We can give them accurate information and living skills in human sexuality and family life.

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Youths can receive counselling and learn about leadership, assertiveness and negotiation. Youths who learn from our
youth-friendly educators can also make better responsible choices on issues such as dating and substance abuse.

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They can become peer educators to help their friends who are in trouble.
A family unit is the unit which builds up a person’s personality. How you behave and what you become in life is
very much dependent on your family life. Psychologists believe that a child learns the most from his or her family life.
In today’s world a big social problem is that the family unit is not being considered as important by the people as it
used to be. In many parts of the world the time period for which people live together as a family is shrinking.
Meaning of Family Life Education: Family life education is preparing individuals and families for the roles and
responsibilities of family. The knowledge about human development, interpersonal relationships, and family living is
not innate; societies have needed to develop ways through which they may transmit the wisdom and the experience
of family living from one generation to succeeding one. Some societies transmit this knowledge through formal
means such as puberty or initiation rites. For the most part, however, individuals learn about family living in the family
setting itself as they observe and participate in family activities and interactions in their own and other families.
Objectives of Family Life Education
Family life education, however, has been conceptualized in more than one way, though it has always focused on
various dimensions of the institution of family and the life within it. Following are some of the objectives of Family
Life Education:
(i) Development of family, role and objectives of family.
(ii) The development of understanding the various relations in the family.

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(iii) To develop the skill of facing any kind of challenge.

(iv) To develop the skill of understanding the different changes occur in the society.
(v) To develop the skill of understanding the physical process.
(vi) To create good and responsible citizens.
(vii) To learn about the role of family in the community.
Specific Objectives of Family Life Education
1. Concept of Family, Types and Aims: It is considered the following points:
(i) History of family
(ii) Definition of family
(iii) Understanding the type of family
(iv) Tasks of family.
2. Family Relationship and Responsibility: Following points are considered in this topic:
(i) The structure of family relationship
(ii) Principles and responsibilities of the family
(iii) The factors affecting the family relationship

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(iv) Issues related with family
(v) Due to personal differences.
3. Family Life-Cycle: In this segment we will understand the different stages of family life-cycle.
4. Family Needs and Resources: Following points are considered under this topic:

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(i) In understanding the different family needs.

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(ii) Planning and understanding the needs of family.
(iii) The size of the family and its effects.

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(iv) Facing the problems related with economy.

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5. Marriage: While the concept of marriage remains the same across the globe, the way of solemnizing it differs

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extensively. Different laws have been formulated to legalize the ceremony, which proves to be an important turning

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point in one’s life.
6. Responsible Parenthood: Following points are considered under this topic:

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(i) Responsibility of the father and mother.

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(ii) Responsibility towards the kids and the family.
(iii) The concept of family planning and its importance.

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(iv) The activities related with birth of child.

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Importance of Family Life Education: In the modern world following are the reasons behind the importance

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of Family Life Education:

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(i) The changing scenario in the marriage and family structure.
(ii) The change in the motives of marriage and family.

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(iii) The benefits of happy family life.
(iv) The ill effects of the divorce.
(v) The rising effect of HIV/Aids.
Importance of Family Life Education
The importance of family life education is summed up in the following points:
● Family life education helps the young people to solve family problems.
● It helps the youth in their growing stage to know about the social, emotional and physical changes that take
place in this stage.
● It develops the knowledge about different roles, functions and maintenance of family.
● It provides knowledge about maintaining good relationship among the members of the family and other people
of the society. It helps to make the family happy and prosperous.
● It develops the knowledge, values and the skills, which are necessary for adulthood, marriage and parenthood
as well as for participation in community life.
● It helps to deal with the changes in the adolescents' lives in their society.
● It helps them to make wise decision and communicate effectively with others about all matters concerning the
social behaviour. It makes people aware that they are becoming sexually mature and leads them to understand
the sex attitudes and behaviours.

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● To help married couples to have fewer number of children.

● To help the youth in learning how to deal with physical, emotional and social changes faced in the process of
growing up.
● To provide counseling services to the couples planning to have children.
● To help the youth in learning how to establish and maintain satisfying relationships with members of the family,
with friends and other whom they come into contact with.
● To help in the protection and promotion of child and maternal health.
● To create favourable environment for population control programmes.
● To mobilize youths to spread population education among the people of community.
● To illustrate the rising effect of HIV/Aids.
Q. 2. Explain the provisions of Special Marriage Act, 1954.
Ans. Special Marriage Act, 1954
Special Marriage
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to provide a special form of marriage
for the people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of the religion or faith followed by

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either party. A special marriage or a registered marriage does not depend on the religion of the parties and religious
laws play no role in determining the validity of the marriage. Marriage under the Special Marriage Act is secular,
statutory, uniform throughout India and uniform for all persons irrespective of race, religion or caste. The minimum

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age of marriage under the Special Marriage Act for bridegroom is 21 years and for bride 18 years. A notice has to be
given in writing to the Marriage Officer of the District in which at least one of the parties to the marriage has resided

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for a period of not less than 30 days immediately proceeding the date on which such notice was given. Before the

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marriage is solemnized the parties and three witnesses shall sign a declaration, and the declaration shall be counter
signed by the Marriage Officer. The marriage gets registered automatically at the time of its solemnization by issuing

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a certificate. The marriage can be terminated by filing the petition to the court, if any of the two parties have any other

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spouse at the time of marriage. It may be annulled through the court on the grounds of impotency, insanity, pregnancy

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of wife at the time of marriage, coercion or fraud. Remarriage after death of a spouse is allowed.

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Restitution of Conjugal Rights
The aggrieved party can petition for a decree for restitution of conjugal rights. Such a decree calls upon the other

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party to resume cohabitation. Non-resumption of cohabitation after such a decree becomes a ground for divorce in

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itself if one year has elapsed since the decree.

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Judicial Separation

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A wife or husband, who does not want immediate dissolution of the marriage but desires to live separately, can

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seek judicial separation through court, instead of seeking divorce on the basis of certain grounds.
Grounds for Divorce

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The grounds for divorce under Special Marriage Act include the kinds of conduct or circumstances of the other
spouse: Adultery; Treating with cruelty; Desertion for at least two years; Incurable insanity or mental disorder (as

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defined in the section) being such that the petitioner cannot be reasonably expected to live with the opposite party;

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Leprosy not contracted from the petitioner; Venereal disease in a communicable form; Opposite party not being heard
of for seven years; Opposite party undergoing a sentence of imprisonment of seven years or more for an offence
under indian penal code; Non-resumption of cohabitation after a decree of judicial separation, for at least one year;
Non-compliance with a decree of restitution of conjugal rights, for at least one year; Husband being guilty of rape or
unnatural sex after marriage; Husband failing to pay the wife maintenance ordered through a court.
Divorce by Mutual Consent
Divorce can also be obtained by through mutual consent of both the party. A petition for matrimonial relief under
the Special Marriage Act can be filed in the competent court within whose jurisdiction the marriage was solemnized.
Against the decree passed through the competent court (granting divorce, judicial separation, restitution of conjugal
rights or nullity of marriage), an appeal can be filed before the High Court. The Act is in favour of the wife and against
the husband in case of maintenance of spouse. The court has jurisdiction to make appropriate orders concerning the
custody, education and maintenance of children, and also orders as to who shall bear the expenses of maintenance.
Q. 3. Answer any two of the following questions in about 250 words each:
(a) Explain any four commonly used family planning methods.
Ans. Family Planning Methods: The preventive methods that help couples to avoid unwanted pregnancies are
called Family Planning Methods or contraceptive methods. There are many different types of contraception available,
out of which some will be discussed here.

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Condom
A condom is a barrier device that may be used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy
and spreading sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS. It is put on an erect penis before intercourse and
physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner. A new condom should be used for
each sexual act. Easy to use, safe and inexpensive, not required any medical supervision, no side effects, easily
disposable and easily available are some of the major advantages of condom. That is why it is used majorly. But due
to the incorrect use, the condom can tear off causing pregnencies. In addition, some complaints are noticed regarding
sex sensation locally.
Diaphragm
The diaphragm is a vaginal barrier invented by a German Physician in 1882. It is a shallow, dome-shaped cup with
a flexible rim, which is inserted before sexual intercourse and necessity remain in place for not less than 6 hours after
sexual intercourse. The diaphragm must of proper vaginal size. No and medical contraindications is the major advantage
of the diaphragm. While the major disadvantage is that during first time, a physician or trained person is needed for
learning the technique of inserting the diaphragm into the vagina to avoid any risk of pregnancy. It can be used only

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after involution of the uterus is completed after delivery. Hence, in case of repeated or frequent pregnancy, diaphragm
cannot be used regularly.

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Intra-Uterine Devices (IUDS)

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An intrauterine device is a small contraceptive device, often ‘T’-shaped, which is inserted into the uterus. There

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are two kinds of IUDs i.e. non-medicated and medicated. These methods are more expensive and necessity be

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changed after a sure time to uphold their effectiveness.
The non-medicated or inert IUDs are often referred to as first generation IUDs. They appeared in different

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shapes and sizes - loops, spirals, coils, rings, and bows. Lippes Loop, double-S-shaped device, is a very commonly

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used IUD in India.

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The medicated copper IUDs comprise the second generation IUDs. After discovering that metallic copper had a
strong anti-fertility effect, copper was added to the IUD. Copper- 7, Copper-T and Nova-T are some of the example.
Low expulsion rate, lower incidence of side effects, easier to fit even in nulliparous women, effective as post-coital

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contraceptives, if inserted within 3 to 5 days of unprotected sexual intercourse etc., are some advantages of copper

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IUDs.

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The medicated hormone-releasing IUDs comprise the third generation IUDs. The most widely used hormonal

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device is progestasert, which is a T-shaped device filled with 38 mg of progesterone, the natural hormone. The
hormone is released slowly in the uterus at the rate of 65 mcg daily. This results in lighter periods and less menstrual

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cramps that many women desire. Easy procedure of insertion, no hospitalization, fertility returns to normal as soon as
the IUD is taken out, not affected by other medicines etc. are some advantages of this technique.

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Hormonal Contraceptives
Hormonal contraceptives are the most effective way in maintain a gap between two pregnancies. Oral pills and
Depot (slow release) formulations fall under this category.
Oral Pill
Combined pill; progestogen-only pill; post-coital pill; once-a-month (extensive acting) pill; and male pill are different
kinds of oral pills. The traditional combination pill comes in 21-day packs or 28-day packs depending on the manufacturer.
The 21-pill pack has pills for 21 “on” days and no pills for the seven “off” days that follow. The 28-pill pack has active
pills for the first 21 “on” days and seven inactive (placebo) or reminder pills for the following seven “off” days. If
taken according to prescription combined pills are 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.
Birth control pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections. To ensure protection against sexually
transmitted infections, it is necessary to use condoms as well. Some women experience side effects, such as
decreased sex drive, nausea, bleeding between periods etc. One serious complication associated with combined
hormonal contraceptive use is an increased risk of blood clotting. According to a report, women who had taken the pill
had a 40 per cent higher death rate due to heart attacks than women who had never taken the pill. Weight gain,
headache, effect on lactation and subsequent fertility, elevation of blood pressure etc. are some risks associated with
birth control pills.

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Depot Formulations
The depot formulations include injectible contraceptives, sub dermal implants, and vaginal rings. These methods
are effective for spacing pregnancies.
Injectable depot contraceptives provide reliable protection against unwanted pregnancies than the other barrier
techniques.
A Sub dermal (subcutaneous) contraceptive implant (e.g. Norplant) is among the most effective birth control
methods. After it is inserted it prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones that prevent ovaries from releasing eggs
and by thickening cervical mucous. The implant can prevent pregnancy for up to five years. The main disadvantages
are irregularities of menstrual bleeding and the requirement of surgical procedures in inserting and removing implants.
The contraceptive vaginal rings are plastic polymer rings that contain sex steroids within them. The vaginal Rings
containing levonorgestrel is effective. The ring is worn in the vagina for 3 weeks of the cycle and removed for the
fourth.
Post Conceptional Methods
If menstrual bleeding do not occur at right time, then there are chances of pregnancy but pregnancy tests are
required to determine that a woman is pregnant or not. In case of pregnancy, people prefer to abort the unwanted

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child. Abortion is the ending of pregnancy by the removal or forcing out from the womb of a fetus or embryo before
it is able to survive on its own. Abortions are usually categorized as spontaneous and induced. Spontaneous abortion,

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also known as miscarriage, is the unintentional expulsion of an embryo or fetus before the 24th week of gestation. It

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is a natural method of birth control. Induced abortions may be legal or illegal. In induced method, the pregnancy is
removed from the womb, either by taking pills (medical abortion) which involves taking medicines to cause a miscarriage

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or by surgery (surgical abortion) where the pregnancy is removed from the womb.
The risks are fewer when an abortion is done in the early weeks of pregnancy. The further along in the pregnancy,
the greater the chance of serious complications and the greater the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality from the

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abortion procedure. The early complications of abortion contain shock, septic condition, uterine perforation, cervical

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injury, thromboembolism, anesthetic and psychiatric complications. The late complications contain infertility, ectopic

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gestation, and increased risk of spontaneous abortion and reduced birth weight.
Other Methods of Family Planning
Abstinence: Abstinence is not having sex. A person who decides to practice abstinence has decided not to have

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sex. So, it can hardly be measured a method of contraception to be advocated to the masses.
Coitus Interruptus: This is the oldest method of voluntary fertility control that requires no cost or appliances. In

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this method, the male withdraws before ejaculation, thus semen is not entered in the vagina. Practice is required for

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males. If the precoital secretion of the male may contain sperm, then a drop of semen is enough to cause pregnancy.
Pelvic congestion, vaginismus, anxiety neurosis are some other side-effects of this method.

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Safe Period (Rhythm Method)
The rhythm method or the calendar method is a way to prevent pregnancy by taking advantage of the natural

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cycle of fertility. It requires an understanding of the body’s natural ovulation cycle. The method is based on the fact

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that ovulation occurs from 12 to 16 days before the onset of menstruation. For e.g. if a woman’s menstrual cycle
varies from 26 to 31 days, the fertile period throughout which she should no have intercourse would be from the 8th
day to 12th day of the menstrual cycle, counting day one as the first day of the menstrual cycle. The major drawbacks
of calendar method is related to occurrence of irregularity in Women’s cycles as it is hard to predict the safe period.
In addition, Compulsory abstinence of sexual intercourse is required for almost one half of every month.
Natural Family Planning Methods
Natural birth control methods teach women to determine the fertile phase. To avoid pregnancy, women avoid
intercourse on fertile days. For these methods, women must be aware about sure physiological signs and symptoms
associated with ovulation as an aid to ascertain when the fertile period begins.
Basal body temperature (BBT) method: The BBT method depends upon the recognizing the rise of BBT at
the time of ovulation due to increase in the production of progesterone. The body temperature does not rise in case of
no ovulation. The major drawback is that sexual intercourse is restricted to certain period within a month.
Cervical Mucus Method: The period of ovulation and the appearance and quality of the cervical mucus are
inter-related. As ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus thins and becomes increasingly elastic and transparent. By
monitoring cervical-mucus changes one can predict about ovulation. It is recommended that, the woman use a tissue
paper to wipe the inside of vagina to assess the quantity and features of mucus.

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Symptothermic Method: This method involves the combined use of temperature, cervical mucus and calendar
techniques for identifying the fertile period. It indicates that for adopting natural family planning techniques, one
requires the complete knowledge of sexuality.
Breast-feeding: According to some studies and traditional belief lactation provides protection against pregnancy
upto some extent. But this is not reliable at all and the women conceive even during lactational amenorrhea.
Birth Control Vaccine: A number of birth control vaccines are at different stages of development, the most
advanced being a vaccine inducing antibodies against human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). The rise in HCG marks
the early pregnancy, thus Immunization against HCG would block continuation of the pregnancy. When a woman has
sufficient anti-HCG antibodies in her system, she is rendered incapable of maintaining a pregnancy. Research on birth
control vaccines continues and uncertainties are great.
Terminal Methods (Styerilization): Through Voluntary sterilization, couples get rid of fear of unwanted child.
Sterilization is a process or act that renders a person unable to produce children. It is a one-time effective method for
protection against pregnancy. If the surgical procedure was done under the guidance of expert medical practitioner,
then chances of complications are very much reduced.

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Male Sterilization

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Male sterilization or vasectomy is a very simple operation performed even in primary health centres through
trained doctors under local anesthesia. During vasectomy, a practitioner doctor closes or blocks the tubes that carry

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sperm. When the tubes are closed, sperm cannot leave a man’s body and cause pregnancy. Vasectomy is a simpler
faster and less expensive operation than tubectomy (a process for female sterilization).

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Female Sterilization

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Female sterilisation is usually carried out under general anaesthetic, but can be carried out under local anaesthetic,
depending on the method used. The surgery involves blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes, which link the ovaries to

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the womb (uterus). Laparoscopy and Minilaparotomy are the two commonly used methods for female sterilization.

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Laparoscopy

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Sterilization by laparoscopy is a common procedure used to perform tubal ligation in women with a specialized
instrument called laparoscope. Tubal ligation is a method of sterilization that involves obstruction of the fallopian
tubes. Laparoscopy enables the physician to complete tubal ligation by making a small incision near the navel. This

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smaller incision reduces recovery time after surgery and the risk of complications. In most cases, the woman can

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leave the surgery facility within 4 hours after laparoscopy.

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Minilaparotomy

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A minilaparotomy is a surgical procedure done one to two days after childbirth. It is done in an operating room
using general or regional anesthesia. The physician makes a small incision (one to three inches) in the abdomen, then

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removes a section of the fallopian tubes on each side. In the postpartum period, the procedure does not lengthen the

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hospital stay.
(b) What are some of the common problems associated with the process of ageing?

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Ans. Developmental Decline and Ageing: The state of being old or the process of becoming old is called
senescence. The declination during ageing is partly because of physical and partly due to psychological factors. The
physical declination involves the change in the body cells due to ageing procedure. The psychological declination is
due to unfavourable attitudes towards self because of not sustaining interests after retiring from work leading depression.
The rate of ageing is different for the two sexes and also depends on different hereditary endowments, different
socio-economic and educational backgrounds, and different patterns of living. Because of unfavourable social attitudes,
the old people often feel useless, unwanted and develop the feelings of inferiority and resentment. The elder people
must establish relationship with members of their own age group in order to avoid loneliness as their grown up children
become increasingly involved in their own vocational and family affairs. People, who had enjoyed their married life
are often satisfied and easily managed to the process of ageing.
In humans, ageing refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some of the
psychological social Issues as the person ages:
1. Decreased social contact–friends and family die- person may withdraw.
2. Reconciliation with past–resolving conflicts, losses, acceptance.
3. Changes in physical appearance may be difficult.
4. Changes in roles/tasks that people can manage can make them feel they have less to contribute.

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5. Managing leisure time- more “free time”.

6. Depression relatively common.
The elder people must establish relationship with members of their own age group in order to avoid loneliness as
their grown up children become increasingly involved in their own vocational and family affairs. People, who had
enjoyed their married life are often satisfied and easily managed to the process of ageing.
Q. 4. Answer any four of the following questions in about 150 words each:
(a) Discuss briefly the types of family.
Ans. (i) Nuclear Family: For a group to be called a nuclear family there must at some time be a father, mother
and at least one child. This type of family structure is found in almost all societies, although the length of time in which
the family remains in this form varies even within the same society.
The nuclear family can be a nurturing environment in which to raise children as long as there is love, time spent
with children, emotional support, low stress, and a stable economic environment. In nuclear families, both adults are
the biological or adoptive parents of their children.
The nuclear family consists of a married couple and their children. The nuclear family is ego-centred, and

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impermanent, while descent groups are permanent (lasting beyond the life-spans of individual constituents) and
reckoned according to a single ancestor. One’s family of orientation is the family in which one is born and grows up,

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while one’s family of procreation is formed when one marries and has children. Claims made for the universality of

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the nuclear family, based upon the universality of marriage, do not hold up–the nuclear family is widespread, but not
universal. In societies where the nuclear family is important, this structure acts as a primary arena for sexual,

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reproductive, economic, and acculturative functions, but it is not the only structure used by societies for the same.
(ii) Joint Family: The joint family system is the traditional family system of India. This family system has been

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prevalent in India since ancient times. Under this system the entire family – grandparents (paternal) and their male

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children stay under a single roof. Each member of the family shares the household chores, thus the work is divided

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and the burden of the work is lessened.

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The joint family system not only lessens the burden of household work, it is also a safety met when financial
difficulties, accidents or calamities arise. The family, as a single unit shares the load together till the financial problems

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die storm has passed over. During times of difficulties, the family is also an emotional support system with each and

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every member contributing in same way or the other towards the establishment of emotional soundness of all its
members. The family is always there to give a patient hearing to all the problems of a member. It does not matter

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whether these problems are significant or not. The important part is that all problems are heard out and advice,
whenever necessary, is dispensed.

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(iii) Extended Family: The term extended family has several distinct meanings. In modern Western cultures

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dominated by nuclear family constructs, it has come to be used generally to refer to grandparents, uncles, aunts,
and cousins, whether they live together within the same household or not. However, it may also refer to a family

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unit in which several generations live together within a single household. In some cultures the term is used
synonymously with consanguineous family.
In an extended family, parents and their children’s families often live under a single roof. This type of joint family
often includes multiple generations in the family. In India, the family is a patriarchal society, with the sons’ families
often staying in the same house.
(c) Explain the different types of abortion.
Ans. Abortion-definition and Types: Abortion is the ending of pregnancy by the removal or forcing out from
the womb of a fetus or embryo before it is able to survive on its own. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which
case it is often called a miscarriage. It can also be purposely caused in which case it is known as an induced abortion.
The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy.
Types of Abortion
Spontaneous Abortion (Miscarriage) occurs naturally without any deliberate effort on the part of pregnant
women or other persons.
Indirect Abortion: This kind of abortion occurs as a side effect of treatment given to the mother for some
diseases or haemorrhage which is endangering her life.
Artificial or Induced Abortion means the removal of the foetus or child intentionally.

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(d) What is the nature of personality?

Ans. Personality is possibly the most important part of what makes us individuals. The nature of personality is
really a unique system of defining how one expresses themselves through emotions and actions. Everyone’s personality
is made up of a unique pattern of traits; these special traits impact how we think, feel and react on an everyday basis.
Each individual’s characteristically recurring patterns of behaviour are known as personality. In the words of Munn,
“Personality may be defined as the most characteristic integration of an individual’s structure, modes of behaviour,
interest, attitude, capacities, abilities, and aptitudes.” According to Allport, “personality is the dynamic organization
within the individual of those psychological systems that determine his unique adjustment to his environment.” Here,
the word ‘dynamic’ means that personality is undergoing a constant change but is still organized. It constitutes two
types of systems: mental and physical, and these two systems interact with the internal and external environments.
The word ‘determine’ emphasizes that it is the psychophysical system, which activates the organisms for action.
(e) Describe the concept and meaning of youth.
Ans. Concept and Meaning of Youth: “Youth” is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence
of childhood to adulthood’s independence and awareness of our interdependence as members of a community.

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According to the United Nations Organisation (UNO), youth is the period between 15 and 25 years which may differ

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from country to country e.g. 15 to 30 years, etc. Youth is a time of search for meaning, for belonging and for
attainment. Youngsters want to explore oneself and one’s qualities and capacities. The tremendous potential of youth

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can grow in the direction of destruction if not catered with care. Youth are always the major concern of every society
and can be perceived in dissimilar shapes i.e. as an age category, as a transitional stage flanked by childhood and

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adulthood, and as a social construct.

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(1) Youth as an Age Category: As a category, youth is more fluid than other fixed age-groups. Yet, age is the
easiest way to define this group, particularly in relation to education and employment.

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(2) Youth as a Transitional Stage from Childhood to Adulthood: The four important happenings mark the

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transition from childhood to adulthood as told by Mitteraeur, a social scientist. These are leaving home, finding

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employment, setting up home and marriage.
(3) Youth as a Social Construct: Social construction is something that is created by the society it exists because
people agree to behave as if it follows certain conventional rules. Each and every society has its own rules and

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regulations for defining youth but these social constructs may not necessarily true. Youth can be seen as a social

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construction, this is because youth over the last century has changed. Young people formed a growing economic force

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in society and in the family and children are therefore targeted by trade in own right.

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Q. 5. Write short notes on any five of the following questions in about 100 words each:
(a) Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.

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Ans.

A S G Self-
actualization

Love and Belonging needs

Safety Needs

Physiological Needs

Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy Theory

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According to the Need Hierarchy Theory of Moslow, there are five basic needs.
(i) Physiological Needs like food, water, sleep, sex and clean air.
(ii) Safety Needs such as housing clothing.
(iii) Love and Belongingness such as to live in a society and to feel wanted and loved.
(iv) Esteem such as self-respect and to respect others.
(v) Self-Actualization i.e. to be aware of one’s potential, to appreciate oneself for the capability etc.
(b) Family life cycle
Ans. Family Life-Cycle: The emotional and intellectual stages you pass through from childhood to your retirement
years as a member of a family are called the family life-cycle. In each stage, you face challenges in your family life
that cause you to build or gain new skills. Gaining these skills helps you work through the changes that nearly every
family goes through. Following are different stages of the Family Life-Cycle:
(i) Behaviour in Family: At this stage husband and wife gain knowledge about different habits, values and
beliefs. They also learn to establish the coordination amongst themselves.
(ii) Understanding Children’s Behaviour: In this stage the married couple gains the knowledge about upbringing

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of the kids. Due to the birth of the child in the family there are some certain changes occur regarding the economic

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status of the family.
(iii) Families with Pre-school Children: At this stage parents mainly focus on the development of the child.

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They also learn about the needs and desires of the children.
(iv) Families with School-going Children: At this stage the children are sent to the school and the family will

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be responsible for their educational development.

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(v) Families with Adolescents: At this stage the family has to take care about the freedom of the adolescents.
Their role is to work as a coordinator in creating coordination amongst different factors related to adolescents.

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(vi) Family as a Transitional Centre: At this stage the parents feel loneliness as children are busy in their

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professional tasks and earning livelihood. At this stage it is really essential to teach children along with their parents

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the various social and cultural virtues.
(vii) Launching Children and Moving on: This is one of the transitions that can be most emotionally difficult
for parents as they now need to accept a multitude of exits from and entries into the family system. If the choices of

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the children leaving the nest are compatible with the values and expectations of the parents, the transition can be

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relatively easy and enjoyable, especially if the parents successfully navigate their second-order changes, such as

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renegotiation of the marital system as a couple rather than as simply parents.

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(viii) Families in Later Years: When Erikson discusses this stage, he focuses on how we as individuals either
review our lives with acceptance and a sense of accomplishment or with bitterness and regret. A family systems

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approach, however, is interested in how the family as a unit responds and sees the key emotional principle as accepting

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the shifting of generational roles. Second-order changes require us to maintain our own interests and functioning as a
couple in face of physiological decline. We shift our focus onto the middle generation (the children who are still in

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stage five) and support them as they launch their own children. In this process the younger generation needs to make
room for the wisdom and experience of the elderly, supporting the older generation without over-functioning for them.
Other second order change includes dealing with the loss of our spouse, siblings, and others peers and the preparation
for our own death and the end of our generation.
(c) Responsible parenthood.
Ans. Planning for Family and for Responsible Parenthood: The transition of couples to parenthood may
create problems if they are not prepare for it because parenthood demand excessive responsibility. The husband and
wife devote less time with each other due to being occupied in the task of parenting. The couples must be prepared
responsibly before entering the phase of parenthood in order to provide an environment to their children in which they
can grow personally and as a family.
Aspects of Responsible Parenthood
Responsible parenthood means to acquire the knowledge and to respect of the functions regarding parenthood.
The parents must be well aware about their own duties towards God, towards themselves, towards the family and
towards the society, in a correct hierarchy of values.
Future Trends
Today, in many countries Lamaze classes are provided that deals with the preparation for parenthood classes.

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Lamaze method emphasizes active involvement of the father in the delivery procedure. People are more aware about
the role involves, increased sharing through both spouses of the birth of their child or children, new techniques of
delivery etc.
(f) Conception
Ans. Importance of Conception: At the time of conception, four significant circumstances i.e. hereditary
endowment, sex, no. of offspring and ordinal position greatly affects the individual’s later development.
(i) Hereditary Endowment: Hereditary endowments are one of the events that take place during fertilization.
The inherited characteristics of a baby is determined the possible combinations of chromosomes passed from different
ancestors on the maternal or paternal side. Thus the union of sperm and ovum means the blending of two distinct
hereditary lines will result into newly conceived individual. This baby form its own distinct personality by inheriting
characters from parents, grandparents and other more remote ancestors.
(ii) Sex:The sex of the zygote is determined by the kind of spermatozoon that unites with the ovum. A spermatozoon
contains one X and one Y sex chromosomes, while mature ovum contains two X chromosomes. Thus, if the zygote
obtains one X and one Y chromosomes from ovum and sperm respectively, then the offspring will be boy. And if the

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zygote obtains one X and one X chromosomes from ovum and sperm respectively, then the offspring will be girl. Thus,

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women should not be blamed for giving birth a female child.
(iii) Number of Offspring: A multiple birth occurs when more than one fetus result from a single pregnancy.

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Different names for multiple births are used, depending on the number of offspring. Common multiples are two and
three, known as twins and triplets, respectively. When a ripe ovum is fertilized through one spermatozoon, the result

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will be singleton, unless the fertilized ovum (zygote) splits into two or more separate parts throughout the early stages

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of cell cleavage. When this happens, the result will be identical twins, triplets, or other multiple births. If two or more
ova are released simultaneously and are fertilized through dissimilar spermatozoa, the result will be non-identical) (or

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fraternal) twins, triplets, or other multiple births.

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(iv) Ordinal Position: At the time of conception, the establishment of the new child’s ordinal position among the

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siblings plays a significant role in determining its personality. For example, the eldest girl in he family is expected to
help in the housework and in taking care of younger siblings.
(h) Carl Roger’s Self theory.

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Ans. Carl Roger’s Self Theory: Carl Rogers proposed that there are two vital systems theory, the organism

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and the self-interacting with each other in the phenomenological field. This interaction results in personality development.

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Phenomenological field means the reality as experienced through an individual or it is the personal reality of the

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individual. The organism represents the totality of experience (conscious and unconscious). Self is the accepted
awareness part of experience. The self concept emerged due to a person’s interaction with social experience. The

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harmonious union of one’s self image and his/her real experience in life give rise to a healthy personality development.

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