functions of the family - consensus theories

Question 1

Murdock - 4 functions of the family (functionalism)

Answer 1

• stable sexual satisfaction
• reproduction of the next generation
• socialisation of the young
• meeting its members economic needs

Question 2

strengths of Murdock’s 4 functions model

Answer 2

• supporting evidence from 250 different cultures

Question 3

weaknesses of Murdock’s 4 functions model

Answer 3

• nuclear families have been replaced by other structures
• overly positive
• Marxists say its function is to benefit capitalism
• feminists say its function is to benefit patriarchy

Question 4

Parsons - functional fit/warm bath theory (functionalism)

Answer 4

industrialisation has led to a move from living in extended families to nuclear families for 2 reasons:
- industrial societies required a geographically mobile workforce and when people left extended families in agricultural areas they became less economically dependent on them
- the family moved from a unit of production to a unit of consumption

Question 5

how traditional functions have been replaced (Parsons)

Answer 5

• nuclear family and marriage being the key way to reproduce has been replaced by other family types, with sex outside marriage being more common
• the family used to be the main source of socialisation but now this is education and welfare
• taking care of the old and sick etc has been replaced by the NHS and other services

Question 6

Parsons - 2 basic and permanent functions (functionalism)

Answer 6

• primary socialisation
• stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 7

strengths of Parson’s views (functionalism)

Answer 7

• supporting evidence (Fletcher says families are now more responsible for taking care of people because if not the NHS etc will replace them)

Question 8

weaknesses of Parson’s views (functionalism)

Answer 8

• incorrect view on the history of the family (Laslett says low life expectancy means families would not be extended as grandparents were not alive as long)
• Wilmott and Young suggested the change to nuclear families was far more gradual
• sexist for seeing the women’s role as providing emotional support
• overly positive and ignores the ‘dark side’ of the family

Question 9

New Right perspective of the family

Answer 9

nuclear family with a married mum and dad are required for children to be effectively socialised

Question 10

Murray - SPFs (New Right)

Answer 10

highly critical of SPFs for 2 reasons:
- believe male and female role models are needed for adequate socialisation
- expensive as receive too much money from welfare benefits

Question 11

Murray - perverse incentives (New Right)

Answer 11

wrote about the rise in the ‘underclass’, long term unemployed, welfare dependents and single mothers and how boys brought up by single mothers will have no male role model to aspire to so they will repeat the same pattern and how the perverse incentives of the welfare state encourages people to remain unemployed

Question 12

Dennis and Erdos - single mothers and male children (New Right)

Answer 12

say single mothers will produce male children without the expectation of adult responsibilities so they will become irresponsible, immature and antisocial young men

Question 13

strengths of the New Right perspective

Answer 13

• statistical evidence (marriage, divorce, SPFs and young men committing crime)

Question 14

weaknesses of the New Right perspective

Answer 14

• nuclear families are not always ideal
• Leach and Laing suggest the modern nuclear family are over dependent on each other, leading to exploitation within the family
• sexist
• no golden age of the family