Modern introduction to the family/ edited by Norman .W. Bell and

There is no dearth of literature both academic and applied, on the family, Numerous professions are actively working and writing this subject. Despite the great amount of work done, the field has been slow in developing a systematic body of theory and data. In some academic circles, perhaps because of the prominence of applied interests, the family is not regarded as a suitable, or fashionable, area for specialization. Prac titioners, on the other hand, often feel that those with "pure" interests have little to contribute to their "applied" endeavors. We believe that these conclusions are false and detrimental to all concerned. This volume has a dual aim: to introduce a tentative theoretical conception which will systematically organize a wide variety of family phenomena, and to pre sent selected readings within this conceptual context. These readings do not prove that the conceptual scheme is the best possible, but only illustrate its utility.

The readings can be used independently of the conceptual scheme ad vanced; they will, we trust, provide a representative selection of many streams of thought and interest in the field. Within the confines of a single volume, it is impossible to give representation to all specialized interests. Thus we have omitted several special areas that are relevant and will be of central concern to some students. We have, for instance, not given adequate space to the too-often neglected early writers in this field. We have omitted completely demographic studies of either a descriptive or analytical nature. Finally, we have not attempted to include material. pertaining to the application of knowledge in the clinical professions, in policy development, or in marriage and family-life education. On the other hand, we have attempted to select material without regard to the boundaries of academic disciplines, to present economic, anthropological. and psychiatric, as well as sociological studies.