psychologist clinical instructor in psychology, … · katie. 2. if things go well, attachment...
TRANSCRIPT
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PATRICIA L. PAPERNOW, ED.D.PSYCHOLOGIST
CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR IN PSYCHOLOGY,DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY, HARVARD
MEDICAL SCHOOL
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Stepfamilies are different from
first-time families.
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First-Time CoupleDating
EllenKevin
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First-Time Couplehas time to deepen attachment
EllenKevin
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A first-time couple has time toform some shared ground
EllenKevin
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The first child enters the adults’ established relationship
Kendranewborn
EllenKevin
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In a first-time family, parents and children start out wired
for attachment to each other
Kendranewborn
EllenKevin
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Kendranewborn
EllenKevin
The family’s shared ground grows over time
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Kendra
EllenKevin
Katienewborn
The next child entersthis growing web of connection
4
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Kendra
EllenKevin
Katie2
If things go well, attachment deepens & shared ground grows
6
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Divorce and 2 single-parent families
Ellen
Kendra10
Kevin
Katie6
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2 critical factors inpositive post-divorce adjustment for
children:
Authoritative (loving and moderately firm) parenting
Low conflict
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Ellen
Kendra12
Kevin
Katie8
“Binuclear family” (Ahrons,1994) 2 years post-divorce
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New stepcouple
Ellen
Kendra12
Gary
Katie8
Claire
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Start of a first-time family
Kendranewborn
EllenKevin
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New stepfamily after a year together
Ellen
Kendra12
Kevin
Katie8
Claire
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STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURECREATES 5 MAJOR CHALLENGES:
1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions in the stepcouple are intense and they are stuck.
2. CHILDREN struggle with losses, loyalty binds, and too much change, too fast.
3. PARENTING TASKS polarize the stepcouple.
4. A new FAMILY CULTURE must be built, while navigating a sea of differences.
5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS, dead or alive, are part of the new family.
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Stepfamilies come
in many forms
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“Simple” stepfamily—only one adult brings children
Ellen
Kendra12
Kevin
Katie8
Claire
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Amanda
Pam
Tommy
Tina
In a “complex” stepfamily, both adults bring children
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Older recouplers with adult children
3228
5958
36
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Stepcouples may be gay or straight, formed by divorce or by death
Amanda
Pam
Tommy
Tina
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Out-of-wedlock birth
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Stepfamily.
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Stepcouple --first marriage not a remarriage
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STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURE CREATES 5 MAJOR CHALLENGES:
1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions in the stepcouple are intense and they are stuck.
2. CHILDREN struggle with losses, loyalty binds, and too much change, too fast.
3. PARENTING TASKS polarize the stepcouple.
4. A new FAMILY CULTURE must be built, while navigating a sea of differences.
5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS, dead or alive, are part of the new family.
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AFRICAN AMERICAN STEPFAMILIES
Black children in stepfamilies are doing as well as White children
in never-divorced families
(Adler-Baeder et al., 2010).
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THE 5 CHALLENGES OF STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURE
1. INSIDERS and OUTSIDERS
2. CHILDREN
3. PARENTING
4. FAMILY CULTURE
5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS
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THE 5 CHALLENGES OF STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURE
1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions are intense and they are stuck.
2. CHILDREN
3. PARENTING
4. FAMILY CULTURE
5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS
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Start of a first-time family
Kendranewborn
EllenKevin
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Kendra
EllenKevin
Katie2
First-time family
6
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New stepfamily
Ellen
Kendra12
Kevin
Katie8
Claire
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3 THINGS THAT HELP MEET THE INSIDER/OUTSIDER CHALLENGE:
1. Normalize and empathize.
2. Spend lots of one-to-one time.
3. Practice good interpersonal skills.
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THE 5 CHALLENGES OF STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURE
1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions are intense and they are stuck.
2. CHILDREN in stepfamilies struggle with losses, loyalty binds, and too much change too fast.
3. PARENTING
4. FAMILY CULTURE
5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS
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3 WAYS TO HELP CHILDREN WITH LOSSES, LOYALTY BINDS, & CHANGE:
1. A step at a time saves nine.
2. Set aside regular, reliable parent-child one-to-one time.
3. Provide empathic, caring connection.
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THE 5 CHALLENGES OF STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURE 1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions are intense and
they are stuck. 2. CHILDREN struggle with losses, loyalty binds,
and too much change too fast. 3. PARENTING tasks polarize the stepcouple.
4. FAMILY CULTURE
5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS
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PARENTING STYLESADAPTED FROM AMEN (2000) AND BAUMRIND (1989, 1991)
Loving &
Firm
Hostile &
Firm
Permissive & Kind
Permissive&
Hostile
LOVING HOSTILE
FIRM
PERMIS-SIVE
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STEPPARENTS ARE PULLED TO “AUTHORITARIAN” PARENTING.
Loving &
Firm
Hostile &
Firm
Permissive & Kind
Permissive&
Hostile
LOVING HOSTILE
FIRM
PERMIS-SIVE
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PARENTS ARE PULLED TO PERMISSIVE PARENTING
Loving &
Firm
Hostile &
Firm
Permissive & Kind
Permissive&
Hostile
LOVING HOSTILE
FIRM
PERMIS-SIVE
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STEPCOUPLES EASILY POLARIZE AROUND PARENTING STYLES
Loving &
Firm
STEP-PARENT
PARENTPermissive
& Hostile
LOVING HOSTILE
FIRM
PERMIS-SIVE
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6 MOVES TOWARD MEETING THE PARENTING CHALLENGE:1. Normalize the challenge.2. Authoritative (loving and moderately firm) parenting
practices.3. Parents remain the disciplinarians.4. Stepparents concentrate on connection, not
correction.5. Stepparents and parents help each other.6. Open and constructive communication.
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STEPPARENTS HELP PARENTS PULL “UP” TO FIRMER PARENTING
Loving &
Firm
Hostile &
Firm
Permissive & Kind
Permissive&
Hostile
LOVING HOSTILE
FIRM
PERMIS-SIVE
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PARENTS HELP STEPPARENTS MOVE“OVER” TO MORE UNDERSTANDING.
Loving &
Firm
Hostile &
Firm
Permissive & Kind
Permissive&
Hostile
LOVING HOSTILE
FIRM
PERMIS-SIVE
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6 MOVES TOWARD MEETING THE PARENTING CHALLENGE:1. Normalize the challenge.2. Authoritative (loving and moderately firm) parenting
practices.3. Parents remain the disciplinarians.4. Stepparents concentrate on connection, not
correction.5. Stepparents and parents help each other.6. Open and constructive communication.
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Loving &
Firm
STEP-PARENT
PARENTPermissive
& Hostile
LOVING HOSTILE
FIRM
PERMIS-SIVE
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“SOFT/HARD/SOFT”(A REVERSE OREO COOKIE)
Start with something “soft” :-Express caring (“I love you.”)-Empathize (“I know this is new for your kids.”)-Give appreciation & positive feedback.-Express confidence (“We’ll keep working on this together.”)
Say the “hard” thing with that soft loving energy.
Add another “soft”.
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THE 5 CHALLENGES OF STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURE :
1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions are intense and they are stuck. 2. CHILDREN struggle with losses, loyalty binds,
and too much change too fast. 3. PARENTING TASKS polarize the stepcouple. 4. A new FAMILY CULTURE must be built, while living
(respectfully) in a flood of differences. 5. EX-SPOUSES
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4 THINGS THAT HELP TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE:
1. Shift the metaphor
2. Developing a family culture is a process, not an event.
3. Try to resist arguing over who is “right” and who is “wrong.” Replace with: “Tell me about how you do that in your family.”
4. Use soft/hard/soft to bring up differences.
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THE 5 CHALLENGES OF STEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURE
1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions are intense and they are stuck.
2. CHILDREN struggle with losses, loyalty binds, and too much change too fast.
3. PARENTING TASKS polarize the stepcouple. 4. A new FAMILY CULTURE must be built, while living
(well) in a flood of differences. 5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS, dead or alive, are
part of the new family.
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3 WAYS TO MEETTHE EX-SPOUSE CHALLENGE:
1. Protect children from adult conflict and tension.
2. Highly cooperative post-divorce co- parenting is best for kids. Low conflict “parallel parenting” is more common and also serves kids well.
3. Support ex-spouses to bring their very best skills, not their worst, to these relationships.
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TEPFAMILY ARCHITECTURECREATES 5 MAJOR CHALLENGES:
1. INSIDER/OUTSIDER positions in the stepcouple are intense and they are stuck.
2. CHILDREN struggle with losses, loyalty binds and too much change, too fast.
3. PARENTING TASKS polarize the stepcouple.
4. A new FAMILY CULTURE must be built,
while navigating a sea of differences.
5. EX-SPOUSES/OTHER PARENTS, dead or
alive, are part of the new family.
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Becoming a stepfamily is a
process, not an event.
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Stepfamilies can and do,
meet their challenges, and
form healthy, thriving
relationships.
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Meeting the 5 Challenges of Becoming a Stepfamily
Dr. Patricia L. Papernow
Member, NSRC Experts CouncilAuthor, Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily
Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t and Becoming a Stepfamily