Functionalism And Psychological View

Question 1

Murdock

Answer 1

250 societies: small scale farming + large scale industrial societies
Found: The N/F is universal with universal fucntions
4 fudntions: SREE
Sees the N/F as the best form of family

Question 2

Criticisms of Murdock

Answer 2

1. Fails to consider of instituions which can perfrom the 4 basic fucntions
2. Morgan: murdock ignores the dark side of family life —> domestic and child abuse (1 child is killed every week in england by their parent)

Question 3

Parsons

Answer 3

Focuses on N/F in modern industrial society
Functions of F have been taken over by specialised inst.
1950/60s American/White/MC

Family performs 2 functions

1. Primary socialistion
2. Stabilistaion of adult personalities - warm bath theory

Question 4

Criticisms of Parsons

Answer 4

1. His view is ethnocentric is mainly focuses on white, american, m/c families
2. Ignores other institutions that can perform the same fcuntions
3. Parsons views primary socialistion as a one way street - ignores family units wjere children manipulate the parents and so they are the family members in control

Question 5

Vogel and bell

Answer 5

Argues the family = dysfucntional
USA study of m/c families with emotionally disturbed children —>
Found tension and conflict between parents was pushed onto children
Kids were used as emotional scapegoats by the parents to relive stress —> kids were blamed for their perosnal issues

Question 6

Leach

Answer 6

The N/F is isolated from other kin - no longer recieves from Ex/F
N/F has to be more indeoendent and inward looking for help —> places more emotional stress on members —> more conflict, violence, divorce
The family has becaome overloaded with stress

Question 7

R.D. Laing

Answer 7

Study N/F where child was schizophrenic
Kids get cuaght up in the middle of parental arguments
High expectations from parents are pushed onto the kids from parents (school grades)
Increased stress/conflcit = schizophrenic

Question 8

Cooper

Answer 8

The family restricts individual freedom

Too much pressure onkids. To confrom a certain way leads to them rebelling parents

Question 9

Dobash and Dobash

Answer 9

Interviews
Study of female victims of doemstic violence
Remians a hidden crime
Crime statistics = misleading = 3 women/2 children killed a week