Marriage and Family Life

Unit 3: Exploring Single and Married Life

Objective 1: Profile single and married lifestyles.

Single lifestyle• More time for self and for personal interests• Greater privacy• Greater independence• Focus on career and other personal goals• Sustained by a strong network of friends• Responsibilities borne by the individual

Objective 1: Profile single and married lifestyles.

Married lifestyle• Shared experiences of daily life• Lifelong companionship• Greater financial security (from pooled resources)• Shared commitment to one relationship• Shared responsibilities• Greater emotional security• Focus on common goals

Objective 2: Identify factors that influence lifestyles.• Where you want to live• Type of work you enjoy• Type of personal and

family life you want • Importance of money

and career• Pace of living• Leisure activities you

enjoy

• Attitude toward marriage or single life

• Circumstances• Beliefs and values• Family and friends• Career goals• Finances and other

resources

Objective 3: Identify factors that influence the decision to remain single.

• Importance of independence and “freedom”• Fear of failure • Commitment to education and/or career • No interest in marriage and/or parenting• Lack of a compatible partner • Desire to delay marriage

Objective 3: Identify factors that influence the decision to remain single.

• Desire to remain financially independent • Need to care for a sick or elderly relative • Ability to care for yourself • Financial stability

Objective 4: Select options for single living.

• Living alone• Becoming or remaining a single parent• Living with a partner • Living with a roommate • Living with family members

Objective 5: Identify implications of living with another person.• Fewer legal property rights for either person in the

relationship• Custody issues may arise when children are involved• Combines aspects of single and married living

without traditional husband and wife roles• Legally single, but emotionally committed to a

partner• Reduces living expenses for each person

Objective 5: Identify implications of living with another person.• May allow a person to get to know another person

better• May allow either or both persons to avoid personal

commitments• Potential for parental/community disapproval• May be fewer legal issues if the relationship ends• Not eligible for most of the legal benefits of marriage

Objective 6: Identify factors that influence the decision to marry.

• Age• Feelings about commitment • Compatibility• Desire to parent or current pregnancy • Financial security/economic support • Independence from family • Desire for intimacy

Objective 6: Identify factors that influence the decision to marry.

• Loneliness • Marriage laws • Mature love • Parental approval • Proximity • Social pressure/expectation

Objective 7: Develop a personal and family life goal plan.

Objective 8: Explore personal attitudes about single and married lifestyles.

Objective 9: Distinguish between love and infatuation.

Love• Takes more time to establish. Love reflects growth in

a relationship• Combines strong personal attachment and attraction• Is a give-and-take relationship.• Involves sharing and trusting• Accepts the other person (including faults)• Requires mutual respect• Shows concern for what is best for the other person.

Objective 9: Distinguish between love and infatuation.

Infatuation• Has a strong physical element• May not be rational.• Involves a strong but often temporary

attraction• Overlooks undesirable traits. • Seldom lasts long• Is usually one-sided

Objective 10: Distinguish between the stages of a romantic relationship.

Dating• Allows people to spend time as a couple and to

develop their friendship• Provides an opportunity to learn more about yourself.• Helps you use and improve various skills. • Acts as an opportunity to learn more about other

people in a variety of settings.• Activities revolve around the interests of you and your

date.

Objective 10: Distinguish between the stages of a romantic relationship.

Engagement• Is the last stage of dating and signifies the start

of a couple’s plans for marriage• Serves as a formal announcement to friends

and family• Acts as a testing period and time to discuss

important issues not already discussed• Allows time to plan the wedding and obtain a

marriage license

Objective 10: Distinguish between the stages of a romantic relationship.

Wedding• Marks the beginning of a life together• Announces the marriage to the public• Legally binds the couple during a civil or

ceremonial service• The honeymoon provides time for the newly

married couple to adjust to each other and to share some intimate time together

Objective 11: Identify the adjustments that marriage requires.

• Making decisions together • Managing your finances together• Making decisions about careers • Learning to communicate effectively • Finding areas of common interest • Deciding on roles

Objective 11: Identify the adjustments that marriage requires.

• Finding a place to live • Handling the habits, routines, and schedules

of daily living• Handling changes in social activities and

relationships • Nurturing relationships with in-laws • Managing day-to-day conflicts

Objective 12: Rank factors of personal importance for a successful marriage.

Objective 13: Identify the scope of marriage laws.

• All marriages require the mutual consent of both partners

• Neither person can be married to someone else

• Both people must be mentally competent• Marriage is a legal contract that has to be

legally dissolved• Many states require blood tests before

marriage

Objective 13: Identify the scope of marriage laws.

• All states have a minimum age requirement• A marriage license is required, except in the

case of common law marriage• A licensed official must perform the marriage

ceremony• Most states will not allow marriages of people

related by blood• Many states have laws prohibiting marriages

between two people of the same sex

Objective 14: . Profile marriage laws and wedding customs.