Abstract
The aim of this research was to explore step family constellations and popularly held perceptions. Study I
comprised a word association test (N = 30) and one focus group with young adults (N = 8). The words stepmother
and stepfather evoked more negative associations such as „cruel‟ and „bad‟ than neutral or positive associations.
Discussion of the focus group revealed that stepfamilies faced difficulties and relationship issues. In Study II
semi-structured interviews with 8 individuals (N = 8) living in stepfamilies were carried out. Challenges faced by
these individuals included adjustment difficulties, non-acceptance, societal biases, mistrust, lack of warmth and
closeness and injustice. There were also supportive relationships and care within stepfamily constellation in some
cases. The associations were compared with depiction of stepmother in three children stories that featured a
stepmother. The themes that emerged were miserable stepchild, cruel stepmother, ineffective biological father,
maltreatment and conspiracy, and problematic sibling relationships. As the dynamic social impact theory posits,
social representation of families may be informed by popular narrative and does not necessarily reflect the real
experiences.
Saira Aslam, Naumana Amjad, Afifa Anjum, Amina Obaid Khawaja, Zainab Bashir. (2015) Stepfamily Stereotypes in Common Discourse and Lived Experiences, Pakistan Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Volume 13, Issue 1.
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