The program emphasizes research and theory and their interplay with individual development, family relationships, and institutions outside the family. The development of the individual is considered within the contexts of the family, peer group, community, and culture.

The family is studied as a system of relationships, with attention to roles, communication, conflict resolution and negotiation, and family members' perceptions of each other and of their family. Public policies, mass media, and care settings outside the family are among the community influences considered in relation to the development of individuals and families.