FUNCTIONALISM

Question 1

What type of theory is functionalism?

Answer 1

Consensus theory

Question 2

What do functionalists regard society as?

Answer 2

As a system made up of different arts or sub-systems that depend on each other. Each social structure works together to keep the whole of society healthy.

Question 3

Which writer compares society to a human body? And how is this linked to the family?

Answer 3

EMILE DURKHEIM-
Just as organs such as the heart or lungs perform functions vital to the well being of the body as a whole, so the family meets some of society’s essential needs, such as the need to socialise children.

Question 4

What is the term used to describe how ‘society is based on a fundamental agreement on ideas of right and wrong’?

Answer 4

Value consensus

Question 5

What is Value consensus created through?

Answer 5

The socialisation process

Question 6

What is the term used to describe a ‘sense of belonging’? And give the definition.

Answer 6

Social Solidarity-

Through value consensus people achieve a sense of belonging to their community.

Question 7

Who are the 2 functionalists key writers who comment on the family mainly?

Answer 7

1) George Murdock

2) Talcott Parsons

Question 8

What 4 essential functions does the family provide according to Murdock?

Answer 8

1) Socialisation
2) Economic provision
3) Reproduction
4) Regulation of sexual activity

Question 9

How does the family provide regulation of sexual activity according to Murdock?

Answer 9

Stable satisfaction of the sex drive with the same partner ,preventing the social disruption caused by a sexual ‘free-for-all’. Furthermore, it allows people to express their sexuality in a safe way.

Question 10

How is socialisation a key function which the family performs? According to Murdock

Answer 10

Socialisation of the young into society’s shared norms and values.

Question 11

How is economic provision a key function which the family performs?According to Murdock

Answer 11

Meeting its member’ economic needs, such as food and shelter.

Question 12

How is reproduction a key function which the family performs? According to Murdock

Answer 12

Reproduction of the next generation, without which society could not continue.

Question 13

Which family structure do functionalists believe is the only social structure which can perform the 4 essential functions? And state the term used by Murdock.

Answer 13

Functionalists believe in the universal nuclear family whereby only the nuclear family is the only social structure that can perform the 4 key functions. Therefore it exists in all societies throughout time.

Question 14

Give 3 criticisms of Murdock

Answer 14

1) Other family structures/social structures can perform the 4 key functions (e.g.extended, gay or cohabiting families and orphanages)
2) Not all societies have nuclear families (e.g. Nayar)
3) Marxists/Feminists reject Murdock’s ‘rose-tinted’ harmonious consensus view that all the family meets the needs of both wider society and all the different members of the family. They argue that functionalists neglects conflict and oppression.

Question 15

What does Talcott Parsons theory focus on?

Answer 15

He focuses on the pre-industrial society(1955) and how the family used to perform many functions.

Question 16

What were the 2 things that the family was, according to Parsons.

Answer 16

1) Unit of consumption-they use stuff

2) Unit of production-they make stuff

Question 17

What 3 things did the state take over since the industrial revolution?

Answer 17

1) Education
2) Health care
3) Care for the elderly

Question 18

What are the 2 irreducible functions of the family according to Parsons

Answer 18

1) Primary Socialisation

2) Stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 19

How does the family fulfil the stabilisation of adult personalities according to Parsons?

Answer 19

The family is a place where adults can relax and release tensions, enabling them to return to the workplace refreshed and ready to meet its demands. This is functional for the efficiency of the economy.

Question 20

How is ‘primary socialisation’ an irreducible function of the family?

Answer 20

Primary socialisation of children to equip them with basic skills and society’s values, to enable them to cooperate with others and begin to integrate them into society.

Question 21

How has family structure changed since the pre-industrial?

Answer 21

Before the industrial revolution family structure was mainly extended to suit the needs of agricultural society. During the industrial revolution, the dominant family structure became nuclear to suit the needs of modern society.

Question 22

What is the term used to describe ‘family structures changing to fit the needs of society’?

Answer 22

Functional Fit

Question 23

What are the 2 reasons why family structure changed according to Parsons?And explain them both.

Answer 23

1) Geographical mobility- Before the industrial revolution families lived in the same village for life. The industrial revolution meant workers had to be able to move around to new factories, so families had to be smaller.
2) Social Mobility- Before the industrial revolution people’s position in society did not change over the course of a lifetimes. Eldest sons stayed living at home with their fathers. The industrial revolution promoted social

Question 24

How is Parson’s function of stabilisation of adult personalities criticised?

Answer 24

Zaretsky: Family only gives emotional support so it’s members will continue working under capitalism

Question 25

How do feminists criticise Parson’s function of stabilisation of adult personalities? And how does this show functionalists failure.

Answer 25

Stabilisation of adult personalities results in women becoming emotional punch bags for family members and subjected to violence or abuse which should be directed at external exploitation. This show that functionalists fail to account for some of the significant and detrimental functions of the family according to conflict theories.

Question 26

Give 3 critcisims of Parsons

Answer 26

1) Parsons is too positive, failing to see the bad side of family life (e.g. domestic violence)
2) He has an overly socialised view of children, seeing them as passive.
3) His work is based on 1950’s white middle-class America. And so his work is outdated and ethnocentric.