Family and households- Functionalism

Question 1

Difference between family and household

Answer 1

Household - A group of people living together who may or may not have family or kinship ties.
Family - A type of household where the people living together are related.

Question 2

4 functions of family according to murdock

Answer 2

1) Economic
2) Secondary Socialisation of children
3)Reproduction
4) Sexual
Found functions were universal – nuclear
family.

Question 3

Key functions of family according to Parsons

Answer 3

1) Primary Socialisation - Children learn + accept the values + norms of society.
2) Stabilisation of Adult personalities - Men = Instrumental role as the breadwinner. Women = Expressive role as the carer and the one who gives emotional support.

Question 4

Criticisms of functionalism and family

Answer 4

1) Ignore darker side of family, such as DV or child abuse. Children may become emotionally disturbed by conflict between parents + children may be used as scapegoats by parents.
2) Parson’s view of the instrumental and expressive role is out dated.
3) Ignores the exploitation of women
4) Ignores the harmful effects of the family

Question 5

What is a structuralist (macro approach)

Answer 5

They emphasise the way our behaviour is constrained and structured
by social forces. Society is seen as an external force directing
behaviour. The individual is therefore a social construct made and
controlled by society. ‘Society’ is in us, moulding and directing us

Question 6

Bell and vogel

Answer 6

Highlight dysfunctional aspects of
family.
Accepts children are scapegoats, but
views this positively.
Suggests this stabilises the family –
good for the society (the whole, a
macro sociological perspective).

Question 7

Warm bath theory

Answer 7

Husband sinks into warm bath that the family provides, relieving stress after a long day at work being the breadwinner
-Parsons

Question 8

Expressive and instrumental roles

Answer 8

Expressive: emotional role, fulfil emotional needs
- female

Instrumental: breadwinner role

• Parsons, says this is due to biological differences between men and women

Question 9

Family being geographically and socially mobile

Answer 9

It is geographically and socially mobile –
can physically move to jobs, due to lack of
ties and can achieve a higher status than
parents.

• Parsons

Question 10

Loss of functions

Answer 10

Parsons suggests the family has
undergone a loss of functions.

Views this positively – it has led to
specialisation.

Family perform only crucial
functions – generating / maintaining
adult.

Family no longer provides healthcare, now have the NHS.

This also links to beliefs and the decline is religious participation!