New Right - Theories of the Family

Question 1

Murray:

Answer 1

A belief in individual responsibility: the overgenerous welfare state has removed individual responsibility as low-income families know that they will receive benefits (so they buy products they cannot afford, etc). This creates a dependency culture, forms the lazy underclass.

Evaluation = criticised by Marxists/left-wing thinkers who says there are structural factors that are beyond people’s control. Some people need support from the state

Question 2

Perspective:

Answer 2

A right-wing political viewpoint. Believes that the nuclear family is the most functional for industrial society, but they do not function as efficiently as they should.

Question 3

Dennis and Erdos:

Answer 3

Instability of single parent families leads to a lack of socialisation, creating social problems such as drug abuse and alcoholism. ‘Fatherless Families’ = young boys miss out on the socialisation that comes with a father.