Functionalist On The Family

Question 1

What does functionalist say about the family ?

Answer 1

Stress the positive aspects of the family favouring nuclear family

Question 2

What are the theorist for Functionalism

Answer 2

• Peter Murdock
• Talcott Parsons
• Six other functions

Question 3

What does Murdock say about the family ?

Answer 3

Family is a nuclear institution with universal function for the well-being of society and it does this in four ways

Question 4

What are the four functions mentioned by Murdock ?

Answer 4

1. Reproductive
2. Sexual
3. Economic
4. Educational

Question 5

What is the reproductive function of the family according to Murdock ?

Answer 5

Society needs new members to survive

Question 6

What is the sexual function of the family according to Murdock ?

Answer 6

Emotional bond between parents, sex for social order and stability

Question 7

What is the educational function of Murdock ?

Answer 7

Culture needs to be transferred to children and norms and values need to be taught to children by parents

Question 8

What is the economic function of the family according to Murdock ?

Answer 8

Family provides shelter, food , income contributing to a smooth society and economy

Question 9

What is the evaluation of Murdock ?

Answer 9

Ignoring diversity and value judgment of diverse family forms

Question 10

What is the ignoring diversity evaluation of Murdock ?

Answer 10

Murdock ignores how family relationships and forms take different forms even in the same society
- different ways in raising up family differs based on religious beliefs, economic opportunity
- educational function differs based on class so family is not universal

Question 11

What is the value judgement evaluation of Murdock ?

Answer 11

Implies that certain types of parenting e.g single, foster or homosexual is not as beneficial as two heterosexual and heterosexual is clearly stating there’s a right and wrong in organising family

Question 12

What does parsons say about the family ?

Answer 12

Family acts as bridge between children and involvement in wider society by internalising shared norms and values which they belong

Question 13

What are the two most important functions of the family according to parsons ?

Answer 13

1. Primary socialisation of children
2. Stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 14

What is primary socialisation of children according to parsons ?

Answer 14

Teaching children norms and values of society so they can learn culture

Question 15

By primary socialisation of children according to parsons , what will teaching children norms and values help to produce ?

Answer 15

Value consensus and continue for society to run smoothly

Question 16

According to parsons: socialisation of children what was the role of the mothers ?

Answer 16

Expressive leaders biologically suited to look after the cultural and emotional development of children, looking after children and household

Question 17

How did parsons: primary socialisation of children see nuclear family ?

Answer 17

Personality factories

Question 18

Parsons:socialisation of socialisation , why did parsons sees nuclear family as personality factories ?

Answer 18

Churning out young citizens committed by rules, patterns of behaviour and beliefs system

Question 19

Parsons:stabilisation of adult personalities, what theory does parsons refer to ?

Answer 19

Warm bath theory

Question 20

Parsons:stabilisation of adult personalities , how does family act as a warm bath ?

Answer 20

Family acts as a stable, loving , warm environment where individuals can destress and let themselves go

Question 21

Parsons:stabilisation of adult personalities, by family acting as warm bath what does it do ?

Answer 21

Emotional support , safety valve and strengthens social stability , safe haven “home sweet home” people can act natural themselves

Question 22

What are the evaluations of parsons ?

Answer 22

• sexist
• assumes children are passive

Question 23

What does parsons sexist evaluation say ?

Answer 23

• Assumes men and women will perform separate roles and they have equal status
• nuclear family is based on male dominance according to Feminist
• role of stabilisation of adult personalities fall on women and women have little support

Question 24

Parsons: assumes children are passive evaluation ?

Answer 24

Assumes that children are waiting to be filled with norms and values but socialisation is actually a two way process , children can socialise parents as much as they socialise them

Question 25

What is the six other functions according to parsons ?

Answer 25

1. Gender role socialisation
2. Social control
3. Social status
4. Recreation and lesuire
5. Economic consumption
6. Protective and welfare function

Question 26

What is gender socialisation according to parsons : other six functions ?

Answer 26

Children learn cultural patterns of behaviour expected for their gender
- what is masculine and feminine
- how male and females should behave
- difference is not biological but natural
- socially constructed by society
- reinforced by secondary agents : education, mass media

Question 27

What is social control according functionalist other six functions ?

Answer 27

• family serves important agent of social control
• alongside secondary socialisation agencies
• mantains social order and value consensus.
• boundaries for deviant behaviors and consequence of primary socialisation
• train children from right and wrong

Question 28

What is social status : functionalist other six functions ?

Answer 28

• family socio-economic status provides us with a sense of family identity
• family provides economic support e.g going university
• education : private school, Tution is dependent support parents offer us

Question 29

What is recreation and leisure of functionalist six other functions

Answer 29

World seen as risky place for children so spend more time at home
Home now furnished with media and technology : tv , gaming

Question 30

What is economic consumption ?

Answer 30

Family economic functions based on unit of consumption provided bh economy for family

Question 31

What is protective and welfare function ?

Answer 31

Infants are helpless and require adult support and protection
- children receive welfare support from parents : shelter, diet and education dependent on family socio-economic status
- support the old, disabled , ill

Question 32

Overall evaluation of functionalist and family

Answer 32

• overly positive : exaggerated and overglotify support family gives and only sees ways family contributes to society
• ignores dark side of family : family is dysfunctional
• ignoring diversity : assumes only nuclear family can carry out essential function
• out of date: functions functionalist talk about are no longer being carried out by just mother bit both and women now working