the functionalist perspective

Question 1

what are the functions of the family?

Answer 1

educational
emotional
economic
nurture
guidance
security

Question 2

what is a nuclear family?

Answer 2

two generations living together, single or both parents

Question 3

what is a reconstituted family?

Answer 3

step family

Question 4

what is a vertically extended family?

Answer 4

grandparents - parents - children

Question 5

what is a horizontally extended family?

Answer 5

aunts - parents - uncles
|
children

Question 6

what is a household?

Answer 6

a group of people who live together, they may or may not be related through blood or marriage

Question 7

what is a family?

Answer 7

a form of household where all the people are related by blood or kin

Question 8

what is functionalism?

Answer 8

a theory which views society as being a system of interconnected parts based in shared values.

Question 9

what do functionalists compare society to?

Answer 9

the human body

society is the body

the heart is the family

the body parts are institutions within society

Question 10

what do functionalists believe both humans and society have in order to survive?

Answer 10

basic needs

Question 11

who provides these basic needs?

Answer 11

social institutions

Question 12

what does a social institution need for it to be functional?

Answer 12

it needs to contribute to the survival of a whole society

Question 13

what institutions in society are valued by functionalists?

Answer 13

religion
government
education
economy
media

Question 14

pre industrial society (parsons)

Answer 14

extended families

multifunctions

looking after sick

education

protection

Question 15

industrial society (parsons)

Answer 15

nuclear families

2 basic irreducible functions

primary socialisation
stabilisation of adult personalities

emotional support (warm bath)

childish side

Question 16

what is organic analogy?

Answer 16

family pumps values around society

Question 17

parson’s view on sexual division of labour

Answer 17

men - instrumental roles

women - expressive roles

Question 18

murdock’s view on sexual division of labour

Answer 18

men provide, women serve

Question 19

what 4 functions does murdock believe the family provides?

Answer 19

sexual - stable relationships for adults

reproduction - creating more society members

economic - pools resources to provide for each other

educational - teaches norms and values in society

Question 20

what did murdock conclude?

Answer 20

he claimed that nuclear families are universal and inevitable, and that families exist in every society

Question 21

what are parsons two essential needs?

Answer 21

a geographically mobile workforce

a socially mobile workforce

Question 22

criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 22

too positive - ignores dark side such as domestic abuse and stress

feminists - women are exploited and abused, ideas on labour divisions are sexist

ignores diversity - based on white, middle class american families

too deterministic - interactionists - socialisation is a two way process