Functionalists Flashcards
According to Murdock, what are the 4 main functions of the family?
Sexual
Socialisation
Reproduction
Economical
What does parsons mean by primary socialisation of children?
Children learning social history and learning how to behave
What does Parsons mean by stabilisation of human personalities?
Men working and making money. Women caring for children
What does Parsons mean by functional fit?
As time progresses the ideal ‘perfect family’ will change
Why is a pre-industrial family different to a industrial family?
Pre-industrial families lived with extended family and generally worked as farmers. Industrial families are nuclear families as well as factory workers
What is social mobility? How might it affect family life?
The ability to change class via promotions. It can lead to abandonment.
Why is the modern nuclear family ‘structurally isolated?’
Disconnection from extended family
What is structural differentiation?
Schools/daycares looking after children instead of mothers.
Homes looking after elderly instead of family.
What is serial monogamy?
Marrying, divorcing then remarrying
Functionalists see family as…
…an institution that contributes to the smooth running of society
Criticisms of Murdock
Other institutions can perform the functions of family such as schools or nursing homes.
Who wrote the ‘functional fit theory’?
Parsons
What does the functional fit theory state?
The function of a family depends on the society which it is found
