Final answer:
Middle-class couples in the U.S. are typically expected to form their own household after marrying, known as neolocal residence, although economic or familial needs can alter this practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States, when middle-class couples marry, it is typically expected that they will form a new, independent household, which is neither part of the bride's nor the groom's family of origin. This practice is referred to as neolocal residence, a sociocultural concept where the newly married couple starts their life in an independent residence. This contrasts with other postmarital residence patterns such as patrilocal residence or matrilocal residence, which involve living with or near the relatives of one spouse.
The establishment of a separate household aligns with bilateral descent, where both the mother’s and the father’s lineages are important. In contemporary society, however, economic or familial needs can sometimes necessitate couples to live with or near parents, despite the norm of neolocal residence.