James H. Bray – författare

Based on a landmark longitudinal study, the nation''s leading expert on stepfamilies reveals his breakthrough findings and offers the first detailed guide to easing the conflicts of stepfamily life and healing the scars of divorce.There are more than twenty million stepfamilies in America.  For most of them, the simple, daily issues that challenge every family are even more anxiety-provoking.  After conducting a comprehensive nine-year-long study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr.  James H.  Bray has written an invaluable book that explains why over half of all stepfamilies fail and reveals the strategies that help the others succeed.A stepfamily is assaulted on all sides by difficult and often divisive questions.  How much control should a stepparent have over a stepchild? How much authority should a nonresidential parent exert over a child? How should a difficult former spouse be handled? How does an "ours" baby change the emotional dynamic in a stepfamily? Why is there a lack of "honeymoon effect" during the first years of stepfamily life?The purpose of Stepfamilies is to answer all the important questions of stepfamily life--to fill in the knowledge gaps that undermine so many stepfamilies today and, crucially, to learn the effect of stepfamily life on children.  Based on one of the largest and longest studies of stepfamily life ever conducted, Stepfamilies interweaves the stories of real families to illustrate such study findings as how:a stepfamily has its own natural life cyclea stepfamily takes several years to develop into a family unita stepfamily is at greatest risk during the first two yearsa stepfamily ultimately coalesces into one of three formsa stepfamily must solve four basic tasks in order to succeeda stepfamily can help heal the scars of divorceFilled with emotional, gripping stories, Bray''s findings pinpoint the three major transitions in stepfamily life and identify the riskiest issues that can throw a family into crisis.  Bray is the first to identify the several distinct forms that stepfamilies take and to explore which types of stepfamilies are more vulnerable than others and why.  He also describes the natural life cycle of stepfamilies and basic tasks all stepfamilies must undertake to succeed.  With a wealth of insight into the positive effects of remarriage, Bray shows how a loving, well-functioning stepfamily can lessen the trauma of divorce and restore a child''s and family''s sense of security.Most stepparents remarry with the highest hopes and new resolutions for a better life.  Never before have their unique needs been addressed in depth. Through insightful case studies and practical advice, Stepfamilies reveals how a strong, stable stepfamily is as capable as a nuclear family of nurturing healthy development, of imbuing values, of setting limits and boundaries, and of providing a structure in which rules for living a moral and productive life are transmitted, tested, rebelled against, and ultimately affirmed.  Bray''s positive message and fascinating findings--many of which defy intuition--will put stepfamilies on the road to lifelong harmony.

With burgeoning numbers of nonresidential parents, how can policymakers and professionals who work with families address the emotional and financial needs of children who do not live with both parents? What resources exist for developing parenting agreements between mothers and fathers who live apart? What should be done when a child refuses to visit the nonresidential parent? What effect does a parent's remarriage have on children? A distinguished roster of scholars addresses these questions by drawing from research, policy, and practice sources to identify the rich array of roles that nonresidential parents may play in the lives of their children. Taking a multidimensional approach that views the family as an entity that changes over time, they also explore such issues as variation in nonresidential parenting across ethnic groups, financial implications of parenting apart, patterns of involvement of nonresidential parents, and children's adjustment to remarriage. Included in each chapter are implications for further research and social policy. This important volume concludes with a chapter that offers new directions for multidimensional approaches to research, policy and practice. Nonresidential Parenting will make compelling reading for researchers, practitioners, and students who work with or study families. "Depner and Bray's collection is especially useful in elaborating its principal contention that a 'monolithic vision of non-residential parenting is a poor basis for policy.'....the book is a competent reflection upon research in the United States." --British Journal of Social work "Consistent with its multidisciplinary approach and its focus on research and application, the book is very readable. It is unique in the ease with which it integrates research, theory, and practice. Yet the text represents a very scholarly approach to the study of these families and related interventions. Major empirical and applied scholarship from a variety of disciplines has been drawn upon to support the book's conclusions and recommendations. This book will be an invaluable resource." --Family Relations

With burgeoning numbers of nonresidential parents, how can policymakers and professionals who work with families address the emotional and financial needs of children who do not live with both parents? What resources exist for developing parenting agreements between mothers and fathers who live apart? What should be done when a child refuses to visit the nonresidential parent? What effect does a parent's remarriage have on children? A distinguished roster of scholars addresses these questions by drawing from research, policy, and practice sources to identify the rich array of roles that nonresidential parents may play in the lives of their children. Taking a multidimensional approach that views the family as an entity that changes over time, they also explore such issues as variation in nonresidential parenting across ethnic groups, financial implications of parenting apart, patterns of involvement of nonresidential parents, and children's adjustment to remarriage. Included in each chapter are implications for further research and social policy. This important volume concludes with a chapter that offers new directions for multidimensional approaches to research, policy and practice. Nonresidential Parenting will make compelling reading for researchers, practitioners, and students who work with or study families. "Depner and Bray's collection is especially useful in elaborating its principal contention that a 'monolithic vision of non-residential parenting is a poor basis for policy.'....the book is a competent reflection upon research in the United States." --British Journal of Social work "Consistent with its multidisciplinary approach and its focus on research and application, the book is very readable. It is unique in the ease with which it integrates research, theory, and practice. Yet the text represents a very scholarly approach to the study of these families and related interventions. Major empirical and applied scholarship from a variety of disciplines has been drawn upon to support the book's conclusions and recommendations. This book will be an invaluable resource." --Family Relations

The Handbook of Family Psychology provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical underpinnings and established practices relating to family psychology. Provides a thorough orientation to the field of family psychology for cliniciansIncludes summaries of the most recent research literature and clinical interventions for specific areas of interest to family psychology cliniciansFeatures essays by recognized experts in a variety of specialized fieldsSuitable as a required text for courses in family psychology, family therapy,  theories of psychotherapy, couples therapy, systems theory, and systems therapy

The Handbook of Family Psychology provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical underpinnings and established practices relating to family psychology.

Provides a thorough orientation to the field of family psychology for clinicians Includes summaries of the most recent research literature and clinical interventions for specific areas of interest to family psychology clinicians Features essays by recognized experts in a variety of specialized fields Suitable as a required text for courses in family psychology, family therapy,  theories of psychotherapy, couples therapy, systems theory, and systems therapy

The Handbook of Family Psychology provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical underpinnings and established practices relating to family psychology. Provides a thorough orientation to the field of family psychology for cliniciansIncludes summaries of the most recent research literature and clinical interventions for specific areas of interest to family psychology cliniciansFeatures essays by recognized experts in a variety of specialized fieldsSuitable as a required text for courses in family psychology, family therapy,  theories of psychotherapy, couples therapy, systems theory, and systems therapy