Functionalism + Family

Question 1

According to functionalists, what is our first point of exposure to social norms and values?

Answer 1

Primary socialisation

Question 2

Explain primary socialisation from a functionalist perspective

Answer 2

Primary socialisation is where children are taught which behaviours are acceptable and which aren’t. For example, as a child, being scolded or punished for lying is a lesson that lying is ‘wrong’. This helps the child understand society’s norms and values, which will help them keep society harmonious.
- Functionalist thinkers believe primary socialisation is an essential function of the family, which is why the family structure must be able to execute it

Question 3

What do functionalists claim is the ideal family structure?

Answer 3

The nuclear family

Question 4

What is the nuclear family?

Answer 4

A traditional family unit consisting of two parents with one or more children. The conventional idea of a nuclear family consists of a monogamous, heterosexual couple.

Question 5

What do functionalists claim about the nuclear family structure?

Answer 5

It performs positive functions, both on an individual level, i.e. for the members of the family, and for wider society

Question 6

What did Durkheim state about the family?

Answer 6

The family is a key institution responsible for several important functions for the well-being of society. All institutions need to be harmonious and stable for society to work effectively.

Question 7

What did Murdock find in his 1949 study?

Answer 7

Studied over 200 societies and found that the nuclear family was a universal family structure because it performed four major, crucial functions for wider society.

Question 8

What did Murdock claim were the four key functions performed by the nuclear family?

Answer 8

• Socialisation of the young
• The biological reproduction of the next generation
• Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
• Meeting its members economic needs

Question 9

Explain what Murdock meant by the function ‘socialisation of the young’

Answer 9

The nuclear family is a key institution through which children experience primary socialisation. Children are introduced to basic social values, beliefs, and practices and taught to differentiate between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’

Question 10

Explain what Murdock meant by the function ‘the biological reproduction of the next generation’

Answer 10

Nuclear families enable procreation and the continuation of future generations, as they are married heterosexual couples who have children. Society cannot keep going without this function.

Question 11

Explain what Murdock meant by the function ‘stable satisfaction of the sex drive’.

Answer 11

The nuclear family maintains the stability of the adults’ sexual relationships, as monogamy prevents ‘sexual jealousy’ and adultery

Question 12

Explain what Murdock meant by the function ‘meeting its members economic needs’

Answer 12

Families which follow the traditional nuclear family structure meet the material needs of their members by providing food, shelter, and basic necessities

Question 13

What are some criticisms of Murdock?

Answer 13

• Feminists argue that the argument that the family is essential is ideological because traditional family structures typically disadvantage women
• It is feasible that other institutions could perform the functions he identified, meaning that the family is not necessarily ‘essential’ in performing these four essential functions
• Anthropological research has shown that there are some cultures which don’t appear to have ‘families’ - the Nayar for example

Question 14

What was the name of Parsons’ theory in which he built on Murdock’s work and stressed the importance of the nuclear family?

Answer 14

Functional Fit theory (1951)

Question 15

Explain Parsons’ Functional Fit theory

Answer 15

Unlike Murdock, Parsons believed that family structures change along with society and that each type of family is creates to ‘fit’ society at the time. As a result, the functions performed by the family do not stay the same, but change over time as society progresses.

Question 16

What is an example of Parsons’ Functional Fit theory?

Answer 16

In pre-industrial society, extended-families were common because they performed various functions e.g. providing more labour for work, caring for sick family members, and educating and taking care of children. In industrial society, however, the nuclear family structure is a better ‘fit’ as it helps to perform different functions in a complex new world.

Question 17

Parsons argued that the transition from an extended family to a nuclear family happened due to several reasons. What were they?

Answer 17

• The state took over some functions such as healthcare and education, which decreased the need for an extended family
• Industrialisation required geographical mobility as the economy continued to grow and change, and an extended family was difficult to move around. Nuclear families, therefore, became independent units
• Nuclear families allowed for specialised roles. In industrial society, a division of labour developed between men and women to ensure all needs and functions were met. The most common result was that the man assumed the (instrumental ) breadwinner role and the woman the (expressive) domestic role

Question 18

What are some criticisms of Parsons’ Functional Fit theory?

Answer 18

• It’s too ‘neat’ - social change doesn’t happen in such an orderly manner
• Laslett found that church records show only 10% of households contained extended kin before the Industrial Revolution. This suggests the family was already nuclear before industrialisation.
• Wilmott and Young found that Extended Kin networks were still strong in East London as late as the 1970s
• Michael Anderson (1971) found that due to geographical mobility and high urban costs in industrial times, nuclear families would move in with their extended families to save costs and strengthen social ties. Extended families provided support that was not yet given by the state, e.g. grandparents looked after children, which enabled parents to work. In return, the parents took care of the elderly or sick.

Question 19

According to Parsons, what is the difference between the nuclear and extended family?

Answer 19

The nuclear family performs fewer functions than the extended family, but these functions are fundamental.

Question 20

What did Parsons’ claim were the two functions of the nuclear family/

Answer 20

• Primary socialisation
• The stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 21

What is an important part of primary socialisation according to functionalists?

Answer 21

‘Gender role socialisation’

Question 22

What do functionalists believe about gender roles if primary socialisation is carried out correctly?

Answer 22

Boys lean to adopt the ‘instrumental role’ - they go out to work and earn money. Girls learn to adopt the ‘expressive role’ - doing all the caring work, housework and bringing up children

Question 23

What is a counterpoint to Parsons view of primary socialisation?

Answer 23

The expressive and instrumental roles are very outdated. They may have held some truth in the 1950s but today, with the majority of women in paid work, and the blurring of gender roles, it seems that both partners are more likely to take on both expressive and instrumental roles.

Question 24

Explain the ‘stabilisation of adult personalities’ function of the nuclear family

Answer 24

Refers to the emotional security which is achieved within a marital relationship between two adults. The nuclear family prevents dysfunction and instability in the adults’ lives because they support each other and meet each other’s emotional needs, especially during stressful times. This prevents dysfunctional and disruptive behaviour such as adultery.

Question 25

What is Parsons’ Warm Bath Theory/

Answer 25

Suggests that when a man comes home from a busy day of work, his family provides him with stress relief and relaxation; just as a warm bath would. This ensures the emotional needs of the breadwinner are met

Question 26

What are four general criticisms of the functionalist view of the family?

Answer 26

• Downplays conflict
• Out of date
• Ignoring exploitation of women
• Functionalism is too deterministic

Question 27

Explain the criticism that functionalism downplays conflict

Answer 27

Both Murdock and Parsons paint a very rosy picture of family life, presenting it as a harmonious and integrated institution. However they downplay conflict in the family, particularly the ‘darker side’ of family life, such as violence against women and children

Question 28

Explain the criticism that the functionalist view of the family is out of date

Answer 28

Parsons’ view of instrumental and expressive roles of men and women is very old fashioned. It may have held true in the 1950s but today, the majority of women are in paid work and gender roles are blurred, so it seems that both partners are more likely to take on both expressive and instrumental roles

Question 29

Explain the criticism that functionalism ignores the exploitation of women in the family

Answer 29

Functionalists tend to ignore the way women suffer from the sexual division in the family. Women are still the main child carers in 90% of families and suffer the burden of extra work (dual burden/triple shift). Gender roles are socially constructed according to feminists, and involve the oppression of women. There are no true biological reasons for the functionalist view of the separation of roles. These roles lead to the disadvantages being experienced by women

Question 30

Explain the criticism that functionalism is too deterministic

Answer 30

It ignores that children actively create their own personalities. An individual’s personality is not predetermined at birth or something they have no control over. Functionalism incorrectly assumes an almost robotic adoption of society’s values via our parents; clearly there are many examples where they isn’t the case