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FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE OF THE FAMILY - Coggle Diagram
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE OF THE FAMILY
Key Ideas
Functionalists see the family as one of the essential building blocks for stable societies
See nuclear family as the ideal family for industrial societies
Nuclear families perform positive functions e.g.. socializing children and providing emotional security for parents
Murdock
Argued that the nuclear family was universal + performed 4 essential functions:
Stabilising the sex drive
- within monogamous relationships which prevents sexual jealousy - ensures adults' sexual relationship are controlled/stable
Reproduction
- biological reproduction of the next generation which without, society cannot continue
Socialisation of the young
- teaching basic norms + values
Economic production
- meeting its members economic needs - e.g. producing food and shelter for example - family provides an economic function to all its members by ensuring they have what they need
Parsons
Functional Fit Theory:
Pre-industrial society families = extended
Industrialisation families = nuclear because they fitted industrial society better
Nuclear family formed as an adaption to industrialisation
Functions of extended family needed to be replaced as nuclear family became socially + geographically more mobile
Nuclear is a better fit for modern society as people move for work + are rewarded for their efforts with promotions, leading to movement up class system
Updated Murdock's Theory - Parson differs by suggesting that the nuclear family is more isolated- 'privatised nuclear family'
Nuclear family has 2 basic + irreducible functions (primary socialisation + stabilisation of adult personalities) - cannot be produced by any other instituation, only the family- in comparison with extended kinship networks of early pre-industrial era
He looked to explain the domestic division of labour - with males and females taking on specific roles based upon biological characteristics
Based his ideas upon typical American family of 1950's - era of increasing consumption where families looked to other institutions to replace some of the functions of the family
Sex Role Theory:
Parsons suggested that roles in the family were divided based upon biological characteristics + gendered socialisation
Instrumental role = economic support through going to work/provides discipline
Expressive role = emotional support + nurturing role taken on by females
The stabilisation of adult personalities
Refers to the emotional security which is achieved within a marital relationship between 2 adults
According to Parsons, working life in industrial society = stressful + family is a place where the working an can return and be 'de-stressed' by his wife, which reduces conflict in society (aka Warm Bath Theory)
Often referred to as 'warm bath theory'
Family life provides emotional support
Adults are also able to indulge childish tendencies through interacting with their children - playing with toys gives adults a sense of fulfillment as it contrasts with emotions towards the workplace
Soothes/washes away the worries of work
Primary Socialisation
Nuclear family - responsible for teaching children norms/values of society
Important part of socialisation =
gender role socialisation
If primary socialisation is done correctly, boys learn to adopt the 'instrumental role' aka 'breadwinner' whereas girls learn to adopt the 'expressive role' aka 'emotional support + housework
Parents reinforce behaviours that are positive + sanction socially undesirable behaviours so that children will 'fit into' wider society