Final answer:
The ABCX Model is a framework in family stress theory, where 'A' is the stressful event, 'B' the family's resources, 'C' the family's definition of the event, and 'X' the resulting crisis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ABCX Model is a framework used in family stress theory to understand how families react to stressful events. In this model, 'A' stands for the stressful event itself, 'B' represents the family's crisis-meeting resources, 'C' signifies the definition the family gives to the stressful event, and 'X' indicates the crisis that results from the interaction of these elements. This model helps in predicting whether a stressful event will lead to a crisis in the family.For example, when a family faces a natural disaster (A), their resources such as savings, social support, and coping skills (B), combined with how they perceive the disaster (C), will influence whether or not the situation leads to a family crisis (X).Stage theories, by contrast, may categorize the phases a family goes through in a sequence, not necessarily related to stressors but rather to the evolution of the family unit through different life stages.