Functionalism

Question 1

Murdock

Answer 1

A family is two adults of different sexes in a socially approved sexual relationship and their biological or adopted children.

The four basic functions of family are sexual, reproductive, socialising and economic. Families also contribute to the circular flow of income by being units of production and consumption.

Also argues that there needs to be a male and female role model in the family for socialisation

Question 2

Bell and Vogel

Answer 2

Scapegoating: Looked at dysfunction in the family and found that children are often emotional scapegoats for the parent’s unresolved marital conflict. Argue that although damaging for the child, this is stabilising for society because the parents will not take out their frustration on wider society

Question 3

Parsons

Answer 3

Says that family now performs less functions because differentiation and specialisation has occurred.

Also says that there are two gender roles: Female “expressive” role (emotional and nurturing) and the male “instrumental” role (breadwinner).

The warm bath theory says that the family is a relaxing and calm atmosphere for the male breadwinner to come home to from work to stabilise him and keep his stress levels low. This ignores single parents and families where the mother works