functionalist views on the family Flashcards
overview of functionalists perspective of the family:
This is your intro in an essay
3 points to include (structure, society, functional)
- they believe the structure of the family is determined by society (passive view)
- all functionalists look at how the family makes society work well
3. believes the role/ purpose of family is to keep wider society functioning
How do functionalists define the family? what are the charactersitics?
Characteristics of the TNF
only include like 3-4 but def include last one
the traditional nuclear family’s (based on SCR) charactersitics:
-must be married
-heterosexual
-must live in the same household
-must have biological children
-monogamous
-must have a** clear division of labour/segregated conjugal roles** (means the marital roles are completely different), SCR must also be:
-expressive role (woman)- housework and childrearer
-instrumental role (man)- breadwinner and financial work
-they argue that they are natural and that the SCR are normal
what is Murdocks view on the family?
2^2
reallyyyy easy
The TNF keeps wider society functioning. How? by performing 4 essential functions that not only benefit society but also benefit the family themselves.
What are the 4 functions the family perform?
SERR
- stable satisfaction of the sex drive
- reproductive role
- economic role- needs of subsistance
- role of socialisation
how does stable satisfaction of the sex drive keep wider society functioning/benefit the individual family member?
BIFM: polygamous relationhips can cause jealousy which can lead to conflict and conflict is a charactersitic of a dysfunctional society
KWSF: polygamous relationships can cause STD’d which can kill off memeber (functional prerequisite)
how does reproduction keep wider society functioning/ benefit the individual family members?
BIFM: only this family can reproduce
KWSF: can produce members which are needed
how does the econmic role keep wider society functioning/ benefit the individual family member?
BIFM: the instrumental role provides the family with their needs of subsistance
KWSF: keeps members alive
Finally, how does the role of socialistion keep wider society functioning/ benefit the individual family members?
BIFM: family is a primary agent of socialisation, societys norms and values are taught by family- this gives the child a sense of belonging
KWSF: by the family teaching the same norms/ values it will create a value consensus
what did Murdock study and what did he find? what were the reasons for his findings?
studied industrial society’s and low income country’s and found that the TNF is universal, it exists everywhere in all human societies. Why?
1. because its natural
2. because it is the most functional and practical- the only family that can keep society functioning
Murdocks AO3
3 reasons
- most (if not all) other types of families and institutions can perform these functions just as well as the TNF
- he implies that the SCR and the TNF are universal, however it was only universal/dominant in the modernity era (industrialistion)- his theory is outdated
- conflict theories such as marxists and radical feminsits would believe that SCR is not natural. they think that the TNF is oppressive and benefits those in power: strips women of opportunity (patriarchal) and only meets the need of capitalism- ‘rose-tinted’ view, too harmonious, neglects conflict/exploitation
is the TNF universal? AO3
Gough (1959)- study of the Nayar tribe (south india)
Sheeran- female carer core
what is Parsons view on the family?
Parsons looks at how the family keep wider society functioning:
The functions it performs depends on the society it was founded in, those in turn affects its shape or structure and that will fit the needs of its society
(believed that the functions of the family depends on the wider society at that time- very deterministic. it meant that the structure of the family was determined by wider society at the time)
Why was the CEF the dominant family structure during pre-modernity?
Because it had a “functional fit” with pre-modernity (it met the needs of society)
-you needed extended kin to look after you are sick and needed their support since healthcare wasnt good
-you also needed them to teach you the skills for work since your status is ascribed
-at this time, the CEF performed lots of role
why did the CEF become extinct and what was it replaced by?
the CEF went extinct because of industrialisation and the evoloution of society. it was replaced by the TNF (or structurally isolated family) because it did not have a functional fit
1. industrial society needed a geographically mobile workforce- it needs people to move to places where their skills are most in demand. the CEF is too big for this, and the SIF meets this need
2. industrial society was based on social mobility and achieved status- means you can change class because your status isnt ascribed anymore (meritocratic/equal opportunity). CEF doesnt fit becuase traditionally the oldest man should have the most status in a household. the youngest son could have a better job now which can cause jealousy (conflict-dysfunctional)
3. in pre-modernity, families had many jobs to do (look after you, teaching you skills). CEF did not fit because it lost its functions- it was not needed. this is the process of “structural differentiation”
parsons identified 2 functions that the TNF perform, what are they?
the ‘Two basic irreducible functions’
**stabilisation of adult personalities: **
-in the TNF, a mans instrumental role means he must meet deadlines and targets which causes stress- but the TNF can compensate for the mans role of work. the womens expressive role means she can look after the wellbeing of others since she is biologically maternal. she can soothe a man and stabilise his personality (parsons refers to this as the warm bath theory).
-life is also very demanding, and the family must maintain a public appearance and must act proffesional. however the family is **a private sphere where adults can stabilise their personalities by acting out their childish instincts **
**primary socialisation: **
socialisation of children into society
