Family Model of Emotional Interdependence

The third ideal-typical family model is the family model of emotional interdependence.

It is thought to develop out of the family model of (total) interdependence in the process of modernization as an alternative to the development in direction of the family model of independence. Therefore, this conceptualization contradicts a major tenet of modernization theory: that societal and institutional change through industrialization, establishment of a

4 Kagitcibasi (2007) notes that the actual existing family systems in individualistic Western societies do not entirely fit this ideal-typical model and that there is also a range of variation between Western cultures (as between North European and South European cultures). Especially in the US there is a gap between the all-encompassing ideology of individualism and actual behavior, which in some respects seems to be much more characterized by relatedness than commonly acknowledged.

market economy and democratization requires a parallel development with respect to the family system and family relationships in direction of the Western model of (emotional and material) independence and prevailing individualistic values. The starting point for Kagitcibasi’s conceptualization of an alternative way of family development was the original Value-of-children study in the 1970ies. In this study it was shown that with increasing economic development and concomitant urbanization in countries of the Majority World the economic-utilitarian value of children went down, but the emotional value children stayed high or even gained in importance. Thus, though children lost their economic utility to parents due to higher costs of child-rearing and the provision of social security by the state, the emotional relatedness that could be gained from having children was still highly valued. Other studies also showed that modernization did not automatically entail individualization.

Intergenerational and familial inter-connectedness seemed to be of continuing worth to people in many modernizing societies.

However, though the traditional family model of (total) interdependence may not change in the direction of the Western family model of independence, change seems to be inevitable when traditional societies are confronted with the forces of modernization. The hypothesized family model of emotional interdependence represents a synthesis of the two opposing poles of (total) interdependence and (total) independence. In this synthetic model there occurs a shift away from interdependence in the material realm while emotional interdependence continues to be very important. It is assumed that this family model is to be found mainly in urban, economically developed areas of countries of the Majority World.

The continuity of the original collectivistic culture of connectedness guarantees the continuing importance of family attachments in this third model. However, due to economic development and the rising of industrial work opportunities there is a shift to growing urbanization. This, in turn, diminishes the importance of handing over agricultural family businesses to the next generation. Accordingly, the significance of patrilineality and son preference declines. Fertility also declines since in an urban industrial context the number of children is no longer relevant for the economic (old age-) security of the parents. The status of women rises due to increased opportunities of education and employment for women.

Individual loyalties are added to the traditional familial and group loyalties. Since providing materially for one’s parents is becoming less necessary due to the development of public pension and health care systems, the material investments shift in direction of the children.

However, this does not result in decreased strength and less closeness with regard to the emotional connection between parents and children.

The parenting style in the family model of emotional interdependence is authoritative.

This style develops out of a growing concern for children developing autonomous selves while at the same time emphasizing family and group ties. Authoritative parenting means to allow children the freedom of choice in some areas of life (autonomy orientation) while at the same time enforcing norms that proved functional and necessary in the past (e.g., close emotional attachments among family members and the related rules necessary not to endanger the smooth functioning of close and harmonious relationships). In urban contexts, autonomous tendencies of children are no longer perceived as threatening as in agrarian contexts where all family members necessarily and at all times have to cooperate to guarantee the survival of the family. Thus, parents’ autonomy orientation becomes possible through the structural and value changes in an economically developing society. At the same time, an autonomy orientation becomes necessary for the child to adapt to the new context. For example, the ability for autonomous decision making is a precondition for functioning in a modern professional environment. In terms of the development of the self, the family model of emotional interdependence favors the development of an autonomous-relational self.

The concurrence of low material interdependencies and high emotional interdependencies in the family model of emotional interdependence could be also due to a

‘cultural lag’ characterized by a slower change of cultural values and customs compared to economic and institutional structures. In this case one would expect along with modernization theory that a change towards the family model of independence would occur in the future.

Since adolescents are the forbearers of the future the current study may provide a glimpse of future development in terms of value systems and family models. According to Kagitcibasi’s theory the development in direction of the synthetic third family model of emotional interdependence is more likely than the cultural-lag-hypothesis. One argument for this ‘other’

way of Majority World modernizing cultures is that historical analyses have shown that the Western family model of independence actually developed prior to modernization. Therefore, it is possible that the value change following modernization in the West was more an intensification of values that were already prevalent due to other – cultural – factors. A similar line of reasoning was behind Weber’s (1904 [1958]) work about the influence of Protestant values on structural and economic change.