1. Functionalist Perspective

Question 1

1. Murdock

Answer 1

• Family performs 4 essential functions to meet needs of society
1. Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
2. Reproduction of the next generation
3. Socialisation of the young
4. Meeting its members economic needs
• Murdock accepts other institutions could perform these functions
• However, the practicality of the nuclear family is why it’s universal

Criticisms of Murdock:
• Functions could be performed equally by non-nuclear structures
• Feminists: family serves the needs of men and oppressing women
• Marxists: argue that it meets the needs of capitalism, not the family

Question 2

2. Parsons

Answer 2

• ‘Functional fit’ theory: Functions family performs depend on the kind of society in which it is found.
• Parsons identifies 2 structures: nuclear family and extended family
• Parsons: there are two types of society… modern industrial society and traditional pre-industrial society
• Nuclear family fits needs of modern, extended fits needs of traditional.
• Parsons: when Britain industrialised, extended family gave way to nuclear.
• This is because the industrial society had two essential needs…

Geographically Mobile Workforce:

• In traditional society: people often spent their whole lives living in the same village, working on the same farm.
• In modern society: Industries constantly spring up and decline in different parts of the country.
• This requires that the workforce must be geographically mobile.
• Parsons argues that it is easier for the two generation nuclear family to move than the three generation extended family.

Socially Mobile Workforce:

• Modern industrial society is always evolving through science and tech
• It is therefore essential that talented people are able to win promotion and take on the most important jobs, regardless of their background.
• In modern society, status is achieved by their own efforts, not ascribed by family background (social mobility)
• Son of a labourer can become a doctor / lawyer through hard work
• Parsons: nuclear family is better equipped to meet needs of industrial society.
• Extended: adult sons live at home in their father’s house, where the father had higher ascribed status.
• However, at work, the son may have a higher achieved status (bringing conflict at home)
• Solution is for adult sons to leave home and form their own nuclear family.

Question 3

3. Loss of Funcitons

Answer 3

• Pre-industrial society was a multi-functional unit.
• It was both a unit of production and consumption. (more self-sufficient)
• When society industrialised, family lost function of production.

• This loss of functions means the family now specialises in 2 irreducible roles

1. Primary Socialisation
2. Stabilisation of Adult Personalities

Question 4

Summary

Answer 4

1. Murdock
2. Parsons
3. Loss of Functions