Sposoby pojmowania istoty funkcji rodziny

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the elements which constitute the function of the family, their mutual configurations and significance. The purpose of the analysis is to review various definitions of the function, to arrange these definitions along the criterion of the number of components of the essence of the function, to show the relations between these components and the components of the social relation, and to propose a new way of understanding the essence of the function. The article also contains the proposal of distinguished between four concepts necessary to take empirical studies of the functions of the family, namely: the essence of the function, the composition of the function, the model scope of the function and the realizational scope of the function. These considerations prove that the most important element of the function are the attitudes of the family members. The attitude is understood here as a permanent organization of views concerning a particular situation and predisposing to certain reactions. Attitudes together with other elements of the function, such as tasks, activities, mutual influences and effects may form different arrangements of functions (praparational, realizational, adaptational, task, rational and optimum arrangements). These arrangements may influence to different degrees the satisfaction of the needs of the family members.