functional perspective on family Flashcards
What do functionalists like Murdock suggest
that the nuclear family is such an important social institution playing vital functions in maintaining society. Rearing and socialising children that is a universal institution.
universal institution
- it lasts for every society in the world.
murdock the only right family is the nuclear family.
what is the nuclear family
2 generations of family living together in one household- involves married parents
- parents are expected to fulfil traditional gender conjugal roles in the family unit.
biological parents.
- functionalists love this type of family it is the only right one in there eyes
-modern society this has changed
- relationships are now increasingly symmetrical in nature
functionalist theory is a structural consensus theory what is this
structural = society shapes the individual
consensus = a successful is based on value consensus
- society follows a set or norms and values
what is sub-systems
functionalist regard society as a system made up of differant parts
what did murdock study
he studied 250 differant cultural societies. he saw in each society teh nuclear family existed meaning it is a universal institution and the nuclear family provides all 4 functions of the family
What are talcott parsons functions of society
- reproduction
-socialisation - satisfaction of sex drive
- meeting its members economic needs.
what are Parsons 4 functions of the family
1- stable satisfaction of the sex drive = prevents deviant sexual activity and promotes hetrosexuality which ensures reproduction
2-reproduction=without reproduction society cannot continue
3-meeting its members economic needs = shelter, producing food
4- socialisation = primary and secondary - teaching basic norms and values
what is value consensus
enables people to work together = people agree around the a set of shared norms and values
what are functional perquisites
(basic needs) - production of food, care of the young, socialisation of the new generation into the culture of society.
these need to be met in order for society to survive
Emile Durkheim stated what
that for society to be functional social solidaity has to occur
social solodarity - how indididuals feel connected and nited with oen another.
how do functionalists believe social solidaity happens
- for functionalists social solidarity is through social institutions
EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONALIT PERSPECTIVE ON FAMILY
`parsons and murdock have a very rose-tinted, they only consider the positives. however they ignore the dark side of family
leach 1967
suggest that due to familys becoming so isolated, less extended fmailys.
it leads to more emotional stress. family’s demand more from one another which causes conflict
leads to toxic childhood
Evaluation
parsons view of the instrumental and expressive role
very old fashioned due to most married or cohabiting women are breadwinners , nowdays most partners share divisoon of labour and costs.
pasrsons came up with teh best fit theory what is it
as society changes som does faqmily
- industrialisation
