Families of Orientation and Procreation
During our lifetime, many of us will be members of two different types of families-a family of orientation and a family of procreation. The family of orientation is the family Into which a person is born and in which early socialization usually takes place. Although most people are related to members of their family of orientation by blood ties, those who are adopted have a legal tie that is patterned after a blood relationship. The family of procreation is the family that a person forms by having or adopting children. Both legal and blood ties are found in most families of procreation. The relationship between a husband and wife is based on legal ties; however, the relationship between a parent and child may be based on either blood ties or legal ties. depending un whether the child has been adopted. In the United States, although many young people leave their family of orientation as they reach adulthood, finish school. and/or get married, recent studies have found that many people maintain family ties across generations, particularly as older persons remain
actively involved in relationships with their adult children.
