Functionalism

Question 1

Murdock’s 4 functions of the family (SRES)

Answer 1

Sexual, reproductive, economic, socialisation

Question 2

According to Murdock, the family is___?

Answer 2

A universal institution

Question 3

What does universal institution mean?

Answer 3

Found in all societies/cultures around the world and through history

Question 4

What does the reproductive function do?

Answer 4

Reproduces the next generation of

Question 5

What does the sexual function do?

Answer 5

Promotes monogamy, prevents social disruption by a sexual free-for-all

Question 6

What does the economic function do?

Answer 6

Provides financially for family members to ensure needs are met

Question 7

What does the socialisation function do?

Answer 7

Primary socialisation of children which teaches norms and values leading to social harmony

Question 8

Evaluation of Murdock

Answer 8

Not all families can play the four essential functions: e.g. single parents can’t perform economic function as well due to only one stable source of income

Question 9

Functional fit

Answer 9

Family structures change along with society and that each type of family is created to ‘fit’ society at the time

Question 10

What does the nuclear family provide for society?

Answer 10

A geographically and socially mobile workforce

Question 11

Why did pre-industrial society have extended families?

Answer 11

Highly rural and agricultural with very few social institutions. Family needed to be large to perform all of the necessary functions

Question 12

Why did industrial society have nuclear families?

Answer 12

Highly urban, dominated by towns and cities with many different social institutions. The family is small as other social institutions perform all the functions the family was required to do in the past

Question 13

Parsons 2 irreducible functions

Answer 13

Socialisation of the young, stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 14

Primary socialisation

Answer 14

Children are taught societies basic norms and values, which enables them to cooperate with others and begins to integrate them into society as fully functioning beings

Question 15

Stabilisation of adult personalities

Answer 15

Where adults can relax, recharge and release stress/tension. They can return to the workplace, refreshed and ready to meet its demands. Functional for both individuals and the economy

Question 16

Evaluation of the extended family

Answer 16

Laslett - the extended family was never really dominant in pre-industrial society, where all members work together. In fact, big extended families were rare because of high infant mortality rates and short life expectancy