In this paper I will describe my observations of a family with a young child, and I will analyze these observations by rel ating them to supporting literature and research. I will call this family the Andersons. Bill Anderson is a 31-year-old white male; he is a reasonably successful insurance broker. He has been married for seven years to 28-year-old Vicki Anderson. Prior to the birth of her son, she was a human resources special ist, but she has not worked outside of the home for the last five years. Jamie Anderson, their five-year old son, is begin ning school this year. None of the Andersons have any major physical or mental health problems.
Each member of the family is approaching a developmental milestone in his or her lifespan, and each is struggling to cope with the changing needs, challenges, and demands within them selves, their family members, and the society in which they are functioning. Bill Anderson's central issues involve feeling overburdened with occupational and familial responsibilities. Studies have demonstrated that the (often conflicting) demands of work and home tend to peak in early and middle adulthood, resul ting in a great deal of dissatisfaction with both areas (Rollins & Feldman, 1970).
Bill does not feel fulfilled by his career and would like to try doing something different, yet he feels he has no other realistic career options because he is the family's sole finan cial provider. Thus, he experiences feelings of being trapped, and of resentment toward his job, his wife, and his son: he also feels guilty about having these negative emotions about those he loves.
It is typical of a person 29-34 years-of-age to question his role(s) in life, and to experience a relatively high level of career and marital frustration (Gould, 1978). Persons in this age group characteristically grapple with the following develop mental tasks: achieving civic and social responsibility, estab lishing and maint...