The Issue of Changes and Threats to the Modern Family

Abstract

This article is devoted to the issues of changes and threats to the modern family. The starting point was to characterize the transformation of the family in the context of broader transformation of society, here the three stages of society development were taken into account – pre-industrial, industrial and postindustrial society. Then, the transformations of socializing and educational functions of the family were pointed out. Another raised issue was the ongoing alterations of the definition of the family. Consequently, the attention was drawn to the alternative forms of family life. To complement the considerations, the changes of the modern Polish family were discussed and the results of the related studies were presented. The dangers to today’s family as consequences of the ongoing transformation were also indicated.