Each woman clearly had a different perspective on the disaster. However, perceptions often change over time. For instance, in the example above the second woman may have had initial feelings similar to the first woman, and had now begun to see positive things coming out of stressful events. This factor is defined as a family's ultimate response to stressor events, after resources and perceptions have been taken into account. A family's reaction can range from coping to crisis, depending on a family's ability to manage the stressors.
Crisis is indicated when the stress is so great that the normal family structure gives way.
For example, signs of crisis would be the inability of family members to work, take care of themselves, perform usual household tasks, or to support and take care of one another. In crisis situations, temporary assistance from outsiders is usually needed. Acceptance Of Hardship. Well-functioning families quickly accept the hardship and use their energy and resources to meet its demands. Poor-functioning families, on the other hand, may deny or misinterpret the existence or the effect of the hardship.