Functionalist views of the family Flashcards
What are the 4 roles of the family?
Socialisation
Economic
Reproduction
Sexual regulation
What is the Functionalist view of the Socialisation role?
Parsons says that the family teaches the basic norms and values of society, preparing children to cooperate and integrate into society. E.g. learning manners
What are some AO3 points for the Functionalist view of Socialisation?
Feminists argue that this socialises children into patriarchy/male authority, as the father is usually the head of the family
Interpretivists argue that Functionalists ignore the meanings and feelings that family members share
What is the Functionalist view of the Economic role?
Murdock says that in the traditional nuclear family, the man plays the instrumental role and earns money which means all family members get the necessities they need to live. E.g. food
What are some AO3 points for the Functionalist view of the Economic role?
Marxists criticise this as rose tinted, saying that this benefits Capitalism more than the family as it means families keep purchasing new things. E.g. new family car
What is the stabilisation of adult personalities/warm bath theory?
According to Parsons, the family helps individual adults relax and destress after the working day. This benefits the individual, meaning they have an enjoyable life
What are some AO3 points for the stabilisation of adult personalities/warm bath theory?
Feminists argue that Functionalists ignore the ‘dark side of the family’, where the working husband takes out his stress on his wife and children in an abusive fashion
Radical Feminists such as Ann Oakley reject the idea that women get the ‘warm bath’. Women perform an average of 77 hours of housework per week, meaning home is not a relaxing place for them
What is the Functionalist view of the Reproduction role?
Murdock says that in order for society to continue, it needs new members to replace those who die each year. Functionalists believe that marriage is the best way to have and raise new children
What are some AO3 points for the Functionalist view of the Reproduction role?
Postmodernists argue this view is outdated. Childbearing is now a matter of choice, and there are other ways than marriage/family to have kids. E.g. sperm donor babies, IVF
What is the Functionalist view of the Sexual regulation role?
Murdock says that monogamy (being married to one person) gives adults a secure way to satisfy their sex drive without creating social disruption (e.g. fighting over partners, hurt feelings through cheating) which benefits society and the individuals involved
What are some AO3 points for the Functionalist view of the Sexual regulation role?
Marxists argue that this benefits Capitalism/the bourgioisie rather than society as a whole. Their wives being married to them means that rich capitalists can be more certain that their children are their own, so they will be happy for the children to inherit their wealth
What is Functional Fit theory?
Parsons says that the shape of families changes to fit the needs of the society they are in, meaning one kind of family will always be the most popular. This explains why Functionalists describe a shift from the extended to the nuclear family
According to Functional Fit theory, what kind of family was most common in pre-industrial society (approx. pre-1800), and why?
According to Functionalists/Parsons, in pre-industrial society the extended family was the most prevalent as families needed lots of people to help work on their farms (which were common at the time) and needed to perform lots of functions for each other, such as healthcare and education
According to Functional Fit theory, what kind of family is most common in industrial society (approx. post-1800), and why?
According to Functionalists/Parsons, in industrial society the nuclear family is the most common as it is geographically mobile (which allowed families to move from rural to urban areas more easily) and is socially mobile (meaning people can move up or down the class ladder depending on how ‘successful’ they are)
How can Radical Psychiatry be used to criticise the Functionalist view of the family?
Leach: Claims the nuclear family is too isolated from wider family ties, meaning the only place parents have to release their frustration is to their children
Laing: Argues the family causes mental illness because parents and children spend too much time together, emotionally suffocating the children with too high expectations
