Duvall's family life cycle was developed by Evelyn Duvall that explains how traditional Families grow and change over time. Traditional family characteristics was addressed by Duvall.

This theory is based on stratification scheme which gives insight about traditional families. This stratification scheme has nine phases. Each phase has associated with it certain developmental tasks that are thought to exist for the typical family (Duvall, 1971).

1. The beginning family (establishment phase): This stage starts with the wedding and continuous until the first pregnancy.

The developmental tasks of this stage include:

  • The establishment of a home.
  • The establishment of a pattern of living together as a couple and as members of an extended family and a community.

2. The beginning family (expectant phase):

This stage starts with the awareness of pregnancy and continuous until the birth of the first child.

The developmental tasks of this stage include:

  • Reorganization of the home.
  • The budget for unborn child.
  • The couples various interpersonal relationships.
  • Their philosophy of life to prepare for the arrival of the baby.

3. The childbearing family:
This stage begins with the birth of the first child and continues until this child is 30 months old.

The developmental tasks of this stage include:

  • Adapting the living arrangements to the need of a young child. In other word, child proofing the home.
  • Meeting new expenses.
  • Reworking patterns of husband-wife responsibilities.
  • Establish new system of communication.
  • New interpersonal relationships with each other and with relatives.
  • Fitting into the community as a young couple.

4. The family with preschool children:

During this stage -

  • The couple learns to rear their children.
  • They continue to develop as a couple.
  • Meetings with new costs and new responsibilities.

5. The family with school aged children:

During this stage -

  • Helping child to grow.
  • Providing for each family member’s needs.
  • Learning to cooperate as a couple.
  • Relating the family to a community.

6. The family with teenagers:

In this stage, the need of all members put new demand on the family. Sometimes these needs conflict.

Developmental tasks include:

  • New pattern of money uses and communication must be work out.
  • Family responsibilities may be shared in a new way.
  • The husband, wife, and each child have need for continued development as person.
  • The parents also need to develop a point of view consistent with teenage values and activities.

7. Family as a launching center:

This stage marks the beginning of family contraction.

  • During this stage, children leave home to become Independent, and to establish new family.
  • The parents must prepare themselves for this and for a renewal of their relationship as a couple.

8. The family in the middle years

During this stage couple need to-

  • Re-adjust their living condition.
  • Adapt themselves to the "empty nest."
  • Develop new or pursue already established friendships and interests.
  • During this stage, many couples draw closer together.

9. The aging family

This stage involves-

  • Making satisfactory living arrangement.
  • Learning to live on retirement income.
  • Maintaining meaningful contacts with friends, children, and grandchildren
  • Providing for illness.
  • Developing a philosophy.

However, this theory has some criticisms, those are:

  1. There is vast way in which families go through the life cycle. Some couple have children before marriage, some have early or late in marriage and some do not have at all.
  2. Some couple go through life cycle stages quickly, while others take much time.
  3. The number and spacing of children may vary.
  4. Historical and family circumstances can make the life different, even for children in the same family.
  5. Events like a parent's death or sibling's death, divorce, or other may make family life quantitively different for a child.