1.2 Functionalists on the family Flashcards

1
Q

(Functionalism) what do functionalists believe society is based on?

A

Value consensus

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2
Q

(Functionalism) what is value consensus?

A

Agreement over shared norms and values

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3
Q

(Functionalism) who did Murdock study? And what did he say he found?

A

250 societies from industrial to hunter gatherers

Found nuclear family in all arguing it is a universal institution

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4
Q

What did Murdock say were the 4 functions of the family?

A

Sexual
Reproductive (next gen of workers)
Economic
Education (socialisation)

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5
Q

(Functionalism) how is the family economic?

A

Unit of consumption buying goods and services

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6
Q

(Functionalism) parsons argues the family has become increasingly specialised what is this referred to as?

A

Structural differentiation

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7
Q

(Functionalism) what is structural differentiation?

A

as societies become more complex institutions perform more specialist functions - like cells in the body

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8
Q

(Functionalism) give examples of some functions which have been taken over:

A

care of the elderly
educating children
taken over by carers, social services and schools

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9
Q

(Functionalism) what did parsons say the two functions of the family were?

A

primary socialisation of children

stabilisation of adult personalities

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10
Q

(Functionalism) what happens in primary socialisation?

A

children learn the norms and values of the society in which they live and internalise them

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11
Q

(Functionalism) why is primary socialisation important?

A

without it there would be no consensus/agreement

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12
Q

(Functionalism) what can unstable personalities threaten?

A

stability and smooth running of society

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13
Q

(Functionalism) what are the two ways the family helps stabilise adult personalities?

A

marital partners provide each other with emotional support

enable to indulge in childish side of personality as parents

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14
Q

(Functionalism) what does the family provide for adults?

A

release from strains and stresses

emotional security and support

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15
Q

(Functionalism) parsons what were the two roles parsons talked about?

A

instrumental and expressive

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16
Q

(Functionalism) men take on the instrumental role, what is this?

A

responsible for economic welfare of family

practical

17
Q

(Functionalism) women take on expressive role, what is this?

A

caring

emotional role

18
Q

(Functionalism) why do men and women have these separate roles?

A

biologically determined e.g. women have maternal instincts

19
Q

(Functionalism) how is popenoe’s view similar to funcitonalists - what did he argue underlines the way the family is organised?

A

biological imperatives

20
Q

(Functionalism) Popenoe says men and women are biologically different so women are better suited to what?

A

nurturing children

21
Q

(Functionalism) what did Chester talk about?

A

the neoconventional family

22
Q

(Functionalism) how does chester describe the neo-conventional family?

A

typical nuclear family with 2 parents and a child, but both parents go to work

23
Q

(Functionalism) why does Chester say that statistics on the nuclear family are misleading?

A

most people spend a major part of their life in a nuclear family - only significant change has been women working

24
Q

(Functionalism) what can functionalists be criticised for ignoring?

A

dark side of family life -abuse, neglect, conflict

diversity of family life - assume nuclear is dominant and the best

25
(Functionalism) functionalists can be criticised as the cereal packet image they create of the family supports what?
the ideology of the nuclear family
26
(Functionalism) why do some feminists criticise Parsons view?
say its sexist - mother should be primary caregiver who has to care for children and distress her husband
27
(Functionalism) how did the Kibbutz represent an alternative to the nuclear family?
communal living children raised in childrens houses men and women worked equally no private property
28
(Functionalism) how can the Gough be used to criticise the idea the nuclear family is universal?
wives didn't live with husbands men had several wives no family structure