families and households - functionalist theory

Question 1

murdocks theory

Answer 1

believes that the family performs 4 essential functions for society and its members:
•stable satisfaction and sexual drive
•reproduction of the next generation
•socialisation of the young
•meeting its members economic needs

Question 2

parsons theory- 2 essential functions

Answer 2

•parsons claims that the family preforms two essential functions in modern day society:
•the primary socialisation of children
•the stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 3

what does parsons mean by the primary socialisation of children?

Answer 3

•primary socialisation is the first and most important part of the socialisation process
•primary socialisation allows for children to be taught shared norms and values of society- any social life would not be possible without shared norms and values

Question 4

what does parsons mean by the stabilisation of adult personalities?

Answer 4

•unstable personalities can threaten the stability of society
•families help stabilise adults- marital partners provide emotional support for each other

Question 5

parsons theory- socially mobile

Answer 5

•parson argues that living in nuclear families can avoid conflict if children are socially mobile
•living in nuclear families instead of extended families avoids conflict between different members of the family who have a different status to each other

Question 6

parsons theory- roles within the family

Answer 6

•parsons argues that men and women had different roles within society:
-women have the expressive role: to provide care, love, affection and emotional support
-men have the instrumental role: to provide financial support (being the breadwinner)
LINKS WITH THE WARM BATH THEORY- the woman are like the warm bath of the family

Question 7

criticisms of the functionalist view of the family

Answer 7

•ignores the dark side of the family e.g domestic violence and abuse
•outdated- mean and woman’s roles have changed = we now have what we call a symmetrical family, meaning both men and women play the instrumental role
•we now have more diverse families and not just nuclear families
•feminists would argue that the woman’s role within the family are unfair and they have a lower status