talcott parsons (1955) Flashcards
what is a nuclear family?
a family made up of a mother, a father and children
what did parsons believe about nuclear families in modern industrial society?
1) family became increasingly specialised
2) extended families were becoming more nuclear
what are the two main reasons that extended families are becoming nuclear?
1) a geographically mobile workforce
2) a socially mobile workforce
what is a socially mobile workforce?
where the new generation can move up the social ladder through jobs and opportunities
what is a geographically mobile workforce?
where people move to urban areas for jobs and opportunities
what is industrialisation?
the process whereby the economy shifted from being based largely around agriculture to being based on industry and manufacturing.
what are the two functions of the family that will never go away?
1) primary socialisation
2) the stability of adult personalities
why wil primary socialisation never go awayy?
there would be no consensus or social order without primary socialisation
what happens to the functions of the family as society becomes industrialised?
1) extended families become more nuclear
2) people become geographically mobile by moving or travelling to work
3) there is less sexual regulation
4) there is more economic growth
what have traditional functions of the family been taken over by?
social services and schools
