Functionalism Flashcards
What is the Functionalism theory?
Functionalism is a macro, structural, and consensus theory arguing society shapes behavior through value consensus, learned via socialisation. Institutions like family and education are interdependent, ensuring social stability. The nuclear family (married heterosexual parents and children) is ideal, providing stability through traditional gender roles: the husband as breadwinner (instrumental role) and the wife as homemaker (expressive role). This structure maintains social order and benefits the economy.
Murdock theory
Murdock, a functionalist, saw the nuclear family as universal and essential for society. It performs four key functions: sexual, reproduction, primary socialisation, and economic support, ensuring stability and value consensus.
Murdock theory AO3:
His theory is criticised for being outdated and overly focused on the nuclear family, ignoring family diversity in contemporary society, such as single-parent families, same-sex couples, and cohabiting partners.
- Sexual Function
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Murdock argued that the family regulates sexual behaviour by promoting monogamous, heterosexual relationships within marriage. He believed that sexual activity should only take place within marriage, ensuring order and stability in society. By restricting sexual relations to marriage, the family prevents social disruption caused by infidelity and ensures clear parental responsibility for children.
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For example, in many religious communities, sex before marriage is discouraged, and people are expected to remain faithful to their spouses. Traditional family values emphasise marriage as the only acceptable context for sexual relations.
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However, this function is no longer as relevant in contemporary society. There has been a significant rise in cohabitation, same-sex relationships, and casual dating, showing that people do not need to be married to have sexual relationships. In addition, legal changes, such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage, challenge Murdock’s assumption that sexual relationships should only be between a man and a woman. Therefore, Murdock’s view is outdated and does not reflect modern family diversity.
- Reproduction
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Murdock believed that the family plays a crucial role in biological reproduction, ensuring the continuation of society by producing the next generation. Without reproduction, societies would not survive, making this an essential function of the nuclear family.
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For instance, in traditional societies, having children is seen as a duty within marriage, and couples are often encouraged to start a family soon after marrying. In many cultures, parenthood is viewed as a key stage in adult life.
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However, reproduction does not only occur within nuclear families. The rise in single-parent families, same-sex couples, and advances in reproductive technology (e.g., IVF and surrogacy) shows that children can be born and raised outside of the traditional nuclear family. This challenges Murdock’s idea that only the nuclear family ensures societal continuation.
- Primary Socialisation Function
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The nuclear family is responsible for primary socialisation, where children learn society’s shared norms and values. Through this process, children develop their identity, manners, and understanding of right and wrong, ensuring they become functioning members of society.
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For example, parents teach their children to respect authority, obey rules, and work hard, which prepares them for school and later employment. Families encourage behaviours that align with social expectations, such as politeness and cooperation.
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Marxists and feminists criticise this function. Marxists argue that the family does not teach shared norms and values, but rather ruling-class ideology, conditioning children to accept inequality and capitalism. Feminists argue that the family enforces patriarchal values, where children learn traditional gender roles—boys are encouraged to be dominant and ambitious, while girls are socialised to be nurturing and passive. Therefore, the family does not socialise children into shared values, but rather reinforces inequality.
- Economic
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Murdock believed that the family provides economic support, ensuring the survival of its members by offering food, shelter, and financial stability. The nuclear family functions as a unit of consumption, where family members work to earn money and spend it on necessities.
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For instance, parents work to provide housing, food, and education for their children. The family also participates in consumer culture, buying products and services that contribute to the economy.
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However, this function is not exclusive to the nuclear family. Other family types, such as single-parent families or extended families, also provide economic support. In modern societies, the welfare state, government benefits, and childcare services help support families financially, reducing dependence on the nuclear family. This challenges Murdock’s idea that only nuclear families can fulfil this role.
Parsons – the nuclear family developed due to industrialisation
Parsons’ functional fit theory argues that the family adapts to the society in which it exists. As the economy changes, the family must also adjust to meet new demands. A key example is industrialisation, which marked the shift from an agricultural economy to one based on machinery, leading to changes in family structure and roles.
Pre-industrial society: Extended families
AO1: In pre-industrial society, the extended family was the dominant family structure because it was essential for survival. With no machinery, most work was done by hand, so many family members were needed to work on farms. The family also had several key functions, such as healthcare (caring for the sick), education (teaching children life skills), and financial support (helping each other manage money), as there was no NHS, formal education system, or welfare state. Additionally, families were not geographically mobile, meaning they stayed in one place for generations. Status within the family was ascribed, meaning individuals were born into roles based on age and gender.
AO2: In pre-industrial Britain, families typically lived and worked together in rural farming communities. For example, a farming family would rely on multiple generations to help with manual labour, care for sick relatives, and educate children at home. A son born into a blacksmith’s family would automatically become a blacksmith, as his status was ascribed at birth.
Industrial society: Isolated nuclear families
AO1: With industrialisation, the isolated nuclear family replaced the extended family due to economic and social changes. Families became units of consumption, earning wages to buy goods and services rather than producing everything themselves. Structural differentiation meant many of the family’s functions were transferred to institutions like the NHS (healthcare), schools (education), and care homes (elderly care). Families also became geographically mobile, moving for work, and status became achieved rather than ascribed, meaning individuals could build their careers rather than inheriting family roles.
AO2: During industrialisation, many families moved to cities for factory work, leading to the rise of the isolated nuclear family. For example, a father might work in a factory while the mother stayed at home to raise the children. Over time, structural differentiation meant families no longer had to provide healthcare or education, as institutions like the NHS and schools took over these roles. Additionally, instead of following their father’s profession, children could pursue their own careers, achieving status based on merit rather than birth.
Parsons – the nuclear family developed due to industrialisation AO3:
Anderson challenges the idea that industrialisation led to the rise of the isolated nuclear family, arguing that extended families remained common in industrial society. His study of Preston found that many working-class families relied on grandparents for free childcare, emotional support, and financial help to cope with the harsh conditions of industrialisation.
Parsons - the nuclear family’s two basic and irreducible functions
- Primary Socialisation of Children
- Stabilisation of Adult Personalities (SOAP)
- Primary Socialisation of Children
AO1 (Describe it):
The family is the first and most important agent of primary socialisation, where children learn society’s shared norms and values. Parents teach norms, such as using a knife and fork, queuing in shops, and greeting people with a handshake, and values, such as respect and politeness. This process ensures that children become well-adjusted members of society.
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For example, a child growing up in the UK is taught to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, reinforcing politeness as a key social value. Parents also encourage children to share toys with siblings to promote cooperation and fairness.
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However, Parsons assumes all children are socialised effectively and have a happy childhood, ignoring issues like child poverty. Over 4 million children in the UK live in poverty, which can negatively impact parent-child relationships. For instance, a mother struggling with financial stress may find it difficult to engage in play or reading with her child, as her focus is on paying rent and bills. This suggests that not all families can provide effective socialisation due to economic hardship.
- Stabilisation of Adult Personalities (SOAP)
AO1 (Describe it):
Parsons argues that the family provides stabilisation of adult personalities (SOAP) by acting as a place where men can relax and release tensions, allowing them to return to work refreshed. This is known as the warm bath theory, where the family provides a comforting and stress-free environment, similar to soaking in a bath. Women play a key role by offering emotional support to their husbands. The SOAP function helps maintain economic efficiency, as happy workers perform better in their jobs.
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For example, after a stressful day at work, a man may come home to a cooked meal and a supportive wife who listens to his concerns, helping him unwind so he can return to work the next day feeling refreshed.
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However, Parsons ignores the dark side of family life, such as conflict and domestic violence. In the UK, two women are murdered by their partners or ex-partners every week, showing that the family is not always a place of comfort. Financial stress, particularly during the Cost of Living Crisis, has also contributed to rising cases of domestic abuse, contradicting the idea that the family always provides emotional support. Furthermore, feminists argue that the ‘warm bath’ theory is patriarchal, as it only benefits men, reinforcing traditional gender roles where women are expected to cater to their husbands’ emotional needs without receiving the same support in return.
Parsons - gender roles
AO1 (Describe it):
Parsons identified two essential gender roles within the nuclear family, which he believed were based on biological differences and necessary for the smooth running of the economy. The instrumental role is performed by the male breadwinner, who provides financial support, manages the family’s finances, and makes major decisions (e.g., buying a house or car). The expressive role is performed by the female caregiver, who is responsible for housework, childcare, emotional support, and caring for elderly relatives. Women also carry out emotion work, ensuring family members feel happy and supported (e.g., cooking their husband’s favourite meal, comforting children, or writing Christmas cards).
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For example, in a traditional nuclear family, the father works full-time to earn money, while the mother stays home to raise the children, cook meals, and look after elderly relatives. If a child wakes up from a nightmare, the mother is expected to provide comfort and reassurance, reinforcing her expressive role. Meanwhile, the father focuses on financial responsibilities, such as saving for a family home.
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However, Parsons’ theory is outdated, as modern families no longer strictly follow these roles. There has been a rise in dual-earner families, where both parents work and share domestic responsibilities. Some men now take on the caregiver role, with a growing number choosing to be househusbands. Additionally, Parsons ignores same-sex couples, whose roles are not based on biological differences but rather on personal preference and flexibility. In contemporary society, adult roles tend to be fluid and negotiated between partners, rather than being biologically determined.
