Functionalism view of the family Flashcards
Overall what do functionalists believe about the family?
-favour the nuclear family as this family can fulfill specific functions
-positive view of family
-Dislike other types of family (not nuclear)
-the family allocates soecific roles based on gender
-The male must take the instrumental role while the woman must take the expressive role
-They prefer marriage to cohabitation as its more stable
What is the instrumental role?
Breadwinner, in control,
What is the expressive role?
Caring, nurturing, stay at home
What did George Murdock believe
The family had four functions
Sexual
Reproduction
Economic
Education
What is the sexual function?
Marfied adults enjoy a healthy sex life preventing affairs and ensuring children are raised by their natural family
What is the reproduction function?
The nuclear family reproduces the next generation of
What is the economic function?
Family provides food and shelter for family members. Ideally the man will go to work and the woman looks after the house and children
What is the education function?
Murdock means socialisation, children learn aocially acceptable behavior and the culture of their society. It helps build shared ideas and values kn society
What does Parsons say about the family?
It has two key functions
Primary socialisation
Stabilization of adult personalities
What is. the primary socialisation function?
Children learn norms and values within the family
What is stabilisation of adult personalities function?
Refers to the emotional security which is achieved within a martial relationship to between two adults (warm bath theory)
What is the warm bath theory?
Home allows the male the ability to soothe stresses and strains of work by spwnding time with his family.
Adults can also indulge into tbeir childish aspects of personality through playing with tbeir children
What is fit theory?
Social institutions and structures exist to all serve an important role in society and to keep it balanced
Before the capitalism system emerged people lived in a classless society, what does this mean?
There was no family structure
Everyone shared labour communaly
All membera owned means of production
