Functionalism on the family

Question 1

Is functionalism consensus or conflict?

Answer 1

Consensus

Question 2

Why is functionalism consensus?

Answer 2

Because it believes that all people in society are working towards shared goals, we all believe the same things are important.

Question 3

How does the family help towards functionalism with the consensus theory?

Answer 3

The family helps all its members to work towards these goals.

Question 4

Is the Marxist and feminist theory consensus or conflict?

Answer 4

Conflict

Question 5

Why are Marxists and feminists are on the conflict side?

Answer 5

They believe that different groups in society are in conflict with each other- these groups have different goals that are incompatible with each other and one group will always be more powerful than the other.

Question 6

Two examples of one group having more power than the other in the conflict theory?

Answer 6

1) Men want power over women in the family while women want equality.
2) The ruling class wants to profit while the working class wants a fair wage.

Question 7

What were the 4 functions for society in Murdock’s view?

Answer 7

1) Sexual
2) Reproduction
3) Primary socialisation
4) Economic

Question 8

Is Geroge Murdock a functionalist?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

Was the mother the expressive role or the instrumental role in Murdock’s theory?

Answer 9

Expressive role.

Question 10

What does the expressive role mean?

Answer 10

To care for the children.

Question 11

What does the instrumental role mean?

Answer 11

Discipline the children.

Question 12

What was the best family type in Murdock’s view and why?

Answer 12

The nuclear family because the kids will have an expressive mother and an instrumental father. And there would be a mother and father role model.

Question 13

Problems with the functionalist view on the family?

Answer 13

It is outdated (1960s), IVF treatment can help lesbians produce their own kids and working women can provide for the kids on her own without a male in the family. Also the help of child benefits.

Question 14

Was Parsons a functionalist?

Answer 14

Yes.

Question 15

Sexual in the 4 functions of families in functionalism view?

Answer 15

Sexual - to allow sexual appetites to be satisfied in socially approved ways.

Question 16

Reproduction in the 4 functions of society in functionalism view?

Answer 16

Reproduction - to bring new members into society and provide stability for bringing them up.

Question 17

Primary socialisation in the 4 functions of society in functionalism view?

Answer 17

Primary socialisation - to ensure that new members of society are taught the norms and values of the culture they are born into.

Question 18

Economic in the 4 functions of society in functionalism view?

Answer 18

Economic - to provide food and shelter to the family.

Question 19

What were the functions of the 2 core function of the family in Parsons view?

Answer 19

Primary socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities.

Question 20

What did the two core functions of the family in Parsons view mean?

Answer 20

Primary socialisation of children - learning how to act in the culture they are born into - the language, views, norms and behaviour.
Stabilisation of adult personalities - the family is like a ‘warm bath’ where the stress of modern life can be washed away in a warm and loving environment. The man has stress from his job and the wife provides emotional support to the husband and children (expressive role) and the husband is the breadwinner (instrumental). The family has an important role to help stabilise the man’s personality.