Neo-functionalist perspective on family

Question 1

explain the Neo-functionalist perspective on family

Answer 1

they view family as an institution that bridges the micro world (of the individual) to the macro world (of wider society)

functions performed in the family prepare individuals to fit in wider society

Question 2

what is the ‘loss of functions debate?”

Answer 2

this is the argument that some of the functions that were traditionally performed by the family have been lost to other institutions

Question 2

what is the ‘fit-thesis’

Answer 2

this is a view by functionalists that the family changes to fit the changing needs of society.

Question 3

example of the fit thesis

Answer 3

pre-industrial society was labour intensive
-> so it needed bigger families , which made the extended family common

post - industrial society not labour intensive = a decrease extended families , and a increase in nuclear families because it needed small and mobile families

Question 4

what are arguments against Persons view on the loss of functions debate

Answer 4

-> historical studies show that there was a wide range of households types in pre-industrial society - no evidence extended families were the norm

-> extended families were not as dominant as the fit thesis claims because the life expectancy was low (35-40yrs) most people did not live long enough to be grandparents

->

Question 5

what are the criticisms of functionalist perspective of family

Answer 5

• the paint a picture of the family only playing positive roles in the lives of the members . ignore the dark side e.g families may be abusive

-they fail to acknowledge the diversity of family types that exist and view the nuclear/extended family as being dominant

• they view socialization as a one way process - however some sociologists argue that it is two way process , parents and children both learn from each other

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Question 6

why does the nuclear family fit industrial society?

Answer 6

because industrial society requires a mobile workforce and the extended family was too difficult to move when families needed too move to find work. There was also less need for the extended family as more and more functions started being carried out by the state