Sociological Theories of the Family Definitions (2)

Question 1

Symmetrical family

Answer 1

A family where the roles of husband and wife or cohabitation partners have become more alike and equal.

Question 2

Functional fit

Answer 2

Parsons’ theory that, with industrialisation, the structure of the family becomes nuclear to fit the needs of industrial society for a geographically and socially mobile labour force.

Question 3

Four functions of the family

Answer 3

Murdock’s theory that families function to provide sexual regulation, reproduction, economic cooperation and socialisation.

Question 4

Structural differentiation

Answer 4

The way new, more specialised, social institutions (e.g. welfare state) emerge to take over functions that were once performed by a single institution (e.g. the family).

Question 5

Nayar tribe

Answer 5

Used as evidence against Murdock, this 19th century south-west Indian society had no nuclear family.

Question 6

Geographical mobility

Answer 6

Movement of people and families from one place to another e.g. in search of work.

Question 7

…

Answer 7

Process where the family becomes responsible for fewer and fewer functions.

Question 8

…

Answer 8

One of the two functions of the nuclear family identified by Parsons, where adults can relax and release tensions, enabling them to return to the workplace ready to meets its demands. This is functional for the efficiency of the economy.

Question 9

…

Answer 9

Willmott and Young’s idea that as standards of living rise, families become more privatised and …

Question 10

Instrumental role

Answer 10

The provider/breadwinner role in the family, often associated by functionalist’s with men’s role in the family.

Question 11

Warn bath theory

Answer 11

Parsons’ theory of the family is sometimes described as this.

Question 12

Isolated nuclear family

Answer 12

The family structure common in industrial societies according the Parsons.

Question 13

Universal nuclear family

Answer 13

The idea that the nuclear family is so important that is exists everywhere, in every society.

Question 14

Expressive role

Answer 14

The nurturing, caring and emotional role, often linking by functionalists to women’s biology and seen as women’s ‘natural’ role in the family.

Question 15

Primary socialisation of children

Answer 15

The first stage in the process of learning the culture of society which takes place in the family.

Question 16

March of progress

Answer 16

The idea that societies inevitably improve and change for the better.

Question 17

Industrialisation

Answer 17

The economic change from farming to factories.

Question 18

Anderson

Answer 18

Social historian who researched the 1851 census and found that industrialisation reinforced the need for an extended family due to increased poverty and hardship.

Question 19

Extended family

Answer 19

Family structure identified by Willmott and Young amongst working class communities. Kinship ties are strong, particularly between mothers and daughters, and provide emotional, practical and financial support. These families often share the same residence or live in close proximity to each other.

Question 20

Social mobility

Answer 20

Movement of groups or individuals up or down the social hierarchy.

Question 21

…

Answer 21

Family structure identified by Litwak which recognises that extended kin ‘stay in touch’ despite geographical mobility.

Question 22

…

Answer 22

Family structure which has emerged as a result of increased life expectancy and falling birth rates (Brannen).

Question 23

…

Answer 23

The family becomes responsible for fewer, more specialised functions through a process of structural differentiation.

Question 24

Achieved status

Answer 24

Social position based on individual effort, ability and reward.

Question 25

Conservative

Answer 25

An ideology which emphasises traditional values and dislikes so social change.

Question 26

Nanny state

Answer 26

Describes the state as to interfering in the lives of individuals.

Question 27

Traditional nuclear families

Answer 27

A family structure which segregated conjugal roles where men are instrumental and women are expressive. New Tight believes this is the best family type.

Question 28

Privatisation

Answer 28

New Right social policy of transferring and enterprise or industry from the public sector e.g. NHS to the private sector.

Question 29

Free markets

Answer 29

New Right economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.

Question 30

Single parent families

Answer 30

Family structure consisting of one parent and the child/ten; especially disliked by the New Right theorists.

Question 31

Abolition of welfare benefits

Answer 31

New Right policy aimed at removing the underclass and the perceived culture of dependency.

Question 32

Underclass

Answer 32

Social class group said by the New Right to have been created for an overgenerous welfare state.

Question 33

Feminists

Answer 33

Political movement blamed by the New Right for the breakdown of the family.

Question 34

Dependency culture

Answer 34

A shared way of life viewed negatively in which members are said to be dependent on the state benefit rather than working for a living.

Question 35

Decline of the family

Answer 35

New Right ideology which maintains the family values and traditional moral beliefs are breaking down and must be reversed.

Question 36

Over generous welfare state

Answer 36

New Right view of the welfare state.

Question 37

Male role models

Answer 37

Dennis and M Broadus maintains the use are missing from single-parent families and harm boys socialisation.

Question 38

Fatherless families

Answer 38

Single parent families as described by Dennis and Erdos

Question 39

Moral decay

Answer 39

New Right belief that society is in decline caused by a breakdown in traditional Norma’s and values.

Question 40

Capitalism

Answer 40

Economic system of production for profit in which one class own the means of production and the other class only their labour.

Question 41

Proletariat/workers

Answer 41

The social class of workers who have to work for wages as they do not own the means of production.

Question 42

Infrastructure

Answer 42

The economic base of a society.

Question 43

Communism

Answer 43

An equal society without social classes or class conflict, in which the means of production are the common property of all.

Question 44

Social class

Answer 44

A social group who share a similar economic situation such as income and wealth.

Question 45

Bourgeoisie/bosses

Answer 45

The social class of owners of the means of production/wealth.

Question 46

Private property

Answer 46

Land and belongings owned by a social group or individual and kept for their exclusive use.

Question 47

Buffer zone

Answer 47

Zaretskyks idea that families provide an ideological space which appears to protect workers from the full-force of misery caused by capitalism.

Question 48

Unit of consumption

Answer 48

Unlike the pre-industrial family, the modern family no longer works together but still consumes together e.g. food, housing and leisure activities.

Question 49

Ideological state apparatus (ISA)

Answer 49

There used by Althusser to identify those parts of the superstructure that brainwash people into accepting social class inequalities.

Question 50

Policing families

Answer 50

Donzelot uses this term to describe the social control of poor families by state professionals such as social workers to ‘improve’ and change them.

Question 51

Pester power

Answer 51

Children demand the latest fashion items and gadgets from their parents; contributes to the function of the family as a unit of consumption.

Question 52

Superstructure

Answer 52

Those parts of society which are based on the economic infrastructure including social institutions such as families or education and cultural norms, values and belief.