Family as normative system [Elektronische Ressource] : an examination of the effects of parent-child obligations on helping behavior / by Mahmood Niroobakhsh

FAMILY AS NORMATIVE SYSTEM: AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PARENT-CHILD OBLIGATIONS ON HELPING BEHAVIOR MAHMOOD NIROOBAKHSH APPROVED BYDissertation Committee: Dr. Klaus EichnerDr. Birgit Pfau-Effinger Dr. Christine Landfried (Chair) Dr. Olaf Asbach Dr. Siegfried Weischenberg FAMILY AS NORMATIVE SYSTEM: AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PARENT- CHILD OBLIGATIONS ON HELPING BEHAVIOR by MAHMOOD NIROOBAKHSH A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Institute of Sociology in the faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at University of Hamburg Germany, Hamburg Winter Semester 2008 Major Professor: Klaus Eichner iABSTRACTThe scope of this study is to get knowledge about the relationship between norms and helping behavior. Norms in the context of the family system refer to parent-child obligations and role behavior. In subsequent, this scope necessitates understanding the extent of family’s commitment to its normative arrangements and the way in which fulfillment of norms affect helping behavior as part of family life that is subject to request under varying conditions.