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CHAPTER
11
FAMILY
COMMUNICATION AND UNPREDICTABLE STRESS
This chapter addresses the issues surrounding life’s unpredictable crises, or those
events that disrupt life’s patterns. Many are considered developmental events. Certain
issues such as divorce are given developmental status by some experts although still
considered unpredictable. The chapter examines: (1) the process and model of coping
with unpredictable stress, (2) communication behavior within the specific family crises
of death, illness, and divorce.
KEY TERMS
Ambiguous loss Bonadaptation
ASSIGNMENTS/EXERCISES
1. Guest Speaker – Marriage Counselor
Invite a marriage or family counselor to describe the types of communication that may
2. Discussion: Divorce as Developmental Stage
Some current family experts argue divorce should be considered as a developmental
3. Children’s Literature Review
Have students bring in and share examples of children’s literature (fiction or non-
fiction) which attempts to help children understand and cope with loss. Ask the
4. Impact of Illness or Disability
Invite a specialist in an area such as learning disabilities or hearing loss to address the
5. The Double ABCX Application
Give students the following directions: “In discussion with a partner apply the double
ABCX model to a stress with which you are both familiar. This may be an experience
6. Ambiguous Loss
Ask students to identify characters experiencing ambiguous loss in books, TV or
MEDIA APPLICATIONS
1. My Girl Analysis
Ask students to watch the video My Girl and to identify at least four losses which are
depicted and how they are dealt with by the characters (coping strategies). Focus on the
ways in which the characters talk or do not talk about the stress.
2. ABCX Application of Other People’s Lives
Have students read a work of non-fiction (or a selected chapter) and discuss how the
double ABCX model could be applied to the family situation.
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3. The Double ABCX Application
An apt application of the Double ABCX and Stage Models of coping with unexpected
stress is from the television series Parenthood (Season 2, Ep. 18) where parents Adam
and Christina’s child Max is diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. There are several
scenes in the episode that display the process of coping with unexpected stressors.
Have students analyze the family’s reaction to, management of, and coping with their
stress through both the Double ABCX and Stage Models. After application and
analysis, have students critique the utility of each model. Which is more useful or
accurate? Which acknowledges the complexity of family communication, particularly
4. Coping Strategies in the Media
Ask students to share examples of each of the Level I, II, and III coping strategies that
they have experienced in their own families or in families they have observed. Ask
them to discuss: (1) the move to higher levels, if such a move happened and (2) the
effectiveness of the coping strategies. How do these levels differ and does the timing
vary from family to family?
5. Unpredictable Stress and Online Support Groups
(Adapted from Jody Koenig Kellas, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Because of their accessibility, anonymity, and specificity, online support groups have
become increasingly popular in recent years. This assignment encourages students to
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analyze online coping behaviors through the lens of the models proposed in the text.
Students are instructed to: “Look up a website of an informative and/or support group
highlighting coping resources for families experiencing unpredictable stress. Examining
the website content and people’s posts, consider the following questions: