Functionalism & New Right

Question 1

Murdock (1949)

Answer 1

family performs 4 essential functions for soc & its mems

Question 2

Stable Satisfaction of Sex Drive

Functions of the Family

Answer 2

w/ same partner preventing the soc disruption caused by sexual ‘free for all’

Question 3

Meeting it’s Members’ Economic Needs

Functions of the Family

Answer 3

food & shelter

Question 4

Socialisation of the Young

Functions of the Family

Answer 4

into soc’s shared norms & values

Question 5

Reproduction of Next Generation

Functions of the Family

Answer 5

w/o soc wouldn’t continue

Question 6

Evidence Supporting Murdock

Answer 6

studied 250 socs of dif cultures = good breadth - saw in each of these socs nuclear fams existed - saw them providing the 4 funcs

Question 7

Criticism of Murdock

Answer 7

funcs can be performed by other institus / non-nuclear strucs - but convienience is why seen so widely
rose tinted view that fam meets needs of mems & soc - ignores conflict & exploitation
fems - fam serves needs of men
m’s - serves cap

Question 8

Parsons’ Functional Fit theory

Answer 8

= 2 basic funcs of fam as soc has changed & needs have adapted

Question 9

Primary Socialisation

Answer 9

sim to Mur’s edu role Parsons agreed fams teach soc n’s & v’s - specif ns&vs of fam/commun - other instits schools etc taught uni n’s of wider soc

Question 10

Stabalisation of Adult Personalities

Answer 10

helped prevent dsyfunc adult behav - encourage conform to soc norms - provide emotional sup
warm bath theory - man relax into fam like warm bath - takes away stress - husband = instru role focus = ach work success - fin sup = bread winner - wife = expressive role - focus PS of children & emo needs = home maker

Question 11

Types of Society

Answer 11

modern Indust - nuclear fits needs = dom fam type
trad pre indust = extended fam

Question 12

Parsons & Types of Society

Answer 12

post-indust soc had 2 essen needs = geo mobile workforce - ppl need to move to where jobs are = easier for compact nuc fam to move
socially mobile workforce - mod indust based on evolv sci & tech needs tech skilled work force = essen talented ppl = able to win promo & take NB jobs - fam hierarchy w/in Hholds can make soc mobility dif so nuc = better

Question 13

Evidence Supporting Parsons

Answer 13

comp to Murdock does take account for changes over time

Question 14

Young & Willmot (1973) Criticisms of Parsons

Answer 14

pre-indust fam = nuc X extended
hardship created mum centred WC Ex fams
nuc fam = bc of soc change (Ex fam less NB now for sup) but studies show still exists too offer childcare etc

Question 15

Criticisms of Parsons

Answer 15

Laslett (1972) 1564-1821 fams almost always nuc
Anderson (1980) exchange theory to explain E fam - harsh conditions meant fam ties = beneficial

Question 16

Loss of Function

Answer 16

pre-indust fam = multi func unit = prod & comsump = m self suf than mod - met most indu & soc needs
when soc indust fam changes struc to nuclear & loses func - no longer prod unit work moves to facs = consump unit loses m other funcs - means nuc fam specialises in essential funcs of PS & SofAPs

Question 17

New Right

Answer 17

gained influ 1980s - based on idea trad nuc fam & v’s = best for soc
think pols on welfare, children, div & fam have undermin

Question 18

Family Diversity Causes Problems

Answer 18

oppose fam div & mod changes - argue this esp growth of lone parent fams cause soc probs
1. lone mums can’t discipline children properly
2. lpfs leave boys w/o male role model - edu failure, delinq & soc instability
3. likely to = poorer so burden on tax payer & welfare

Question 19

Dependency Culture

Charles Murray 1988

Answer 19

gov welfare pols eg state funding & soc attis = underm nuc fam
= over gen bens to single mums - dads can to opt out of respon for raising & providing for fam
gov do econ func - dont have working p - no incen to keep fam together - encours larger fams which are less likely to be self suf

Question 20

Deviant Sons

Charles Murray 1988

Answer 20

m young men chose not to work - may turn to crime & drugs - grew up w/o male role model / wage earner
lack of male role models - w/in female headed underclass depen on bens respons of norm soc breakdown - harms econ growth

Question 21

Evaluation of New Right

Answer 21

crit for blaming vic
m’s argue = pol pos = ideo justi for cap pols
makes moralistic value judgements on which fam = better = little X evi LPFs are part of depen cul
fems - hole sexist views of women

Question 22

Statistics

Supporting New Right

Answer 22

single parent fams 2x m likely to experience pov
kids from broken homes = 9x m likely to = young offens
family breakdown costs UK £40 billion a year

Question 23

Harry Benson (2017)

Supporting New Right

Answer 23

link between broken homes & teenage mental health = well estab
boys m likely to have behav probs & girls emo probs
1/8 teenagers report poor mental health & poor home life is commonly cited as the reason