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- Title
A Study of Perceptions of the Stepparent Role.
- Authors
Schwebel, Andrew I.; Fine, Mark A.; Renner, Maureena A.
- Abstract
The article determines whether there is a lack of social consensus about how step parents should and will act as parents and whether individuals in society perceive step parent roles as similar to or different from the roles of biological and adoptive parents. The results of the study indicate that subjects viewed the roles of stepparents as less clear than those of biological and adoptive parents. There is an absence of socially accepted role prescriptions to guide stepparents. The lack of conventional wisdom about what is appropriate behavior for stepparents is evident from data collected. There was greater variability, or a lack of agreement, among respondents on how stepparents, in contrast to biological and adoptive parents, would and should respond. Lacking conventional wisdom, stepparents must make their own, unguided decisions about the division of role responsibilities. Without the benefit of conventional wisdom, certain kinds of differences of opinions and wants, disappointments, conflict and stress are more likely.
- Subjects
STEPPARENTS; ROLE playing; ADOPTIVE parents; BEHAVIOR; STEPFAMILIES; INTIMACY (Psychology)
- Publication
Journal of Family Issues, 1991, Vol 12, Issue 1, p43
- ISSN
0192-513X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/019251391012001004