A Purposeful Behaviour Theory of Work and Family Size Decisions

Our goal in this chapter will be to develop a theory of work and family size decisions at the level of the social psychology of a man and woman in an intimate relationship. Four assumptions shape the form and substance of our theory. Firstly, we assume that work and family size considerations must be integrated in any valid theory and that these considerations function as either simultaneous or sequential criteria (Bagozzi and Van Loo, 1988; Van Loo and Bagozzi, 1984). By simultaneous criteria we mean that work and family size decisions are decided upon contemporaneously in either explicit or implicit choice processes. This might occur at one point in time such as at the outset of marriage but more likely than not happens intermittently throughout the course of the relationship. By sequential criteria we mean that one or the other are decided upon with the alternative functioning as either a preexisting or anticipated constraint.