ABSTRACT
A paradigm of intercultural and interdisciplinary thought and process is beginning to emerge. Marker variables such as agreed definitions of varied forms of families and social class are becoming standardized and used increasingly in national and cross-national studies. The incidence and prevalence of stepfamilies is increasing in all societies paralleling the increases in the divorce and separation rates. Normalization of stepfamilies is likely to occur as it has in relation to divorce. The creation of a stepfamily usually as a consequence of divorce is becoming less of a pathological event as its incidence increases. Learning that a family has stepchildren does not create any strong reaction or rejection. Stepfamilies will be nuclear units within a larger kin network along with other nuclear units living in the same household or propinquitous to other units which will function as unified or semi-autonomous structures.
