Functionalism

Question 1

G. P. Murdock (1949) - definition of the family

Answer 1

is a social group characterised by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction

it includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults

Question 2

how many societies did Murdock analyse and what were his findings of this

Answer 2

250

the family is universal

Question 3

Murdocks 4 vital functions of the family

Answer 3

Sexual
Reproduction
Socialisation
Economic

Question 4

4 vf - sexual

Answer 4

adults have their sexual needs met in a stable relationship

Question 5

4 vf - reproduction

Answer 5

the family creates the next generation of society

Question 6

4 vf - socialisation

Answer 6

the family carries out primary socialisation which means teaching the norms and values

Question 7

4 vf - economic

Answer 7

all members are [provided for (e.g. housing)

Question 8

benefit of the ‘sexual’ function to the individual

Answer 8

prevents adultery

healthy relationship

Question 9

benefit of the ‘sexual’ function to society

Answer 9

prevents STD epidemics

prevents illegitimate children

Question 10

benefit of the ‘reproduction’ function to the individual

Answer 10

continue lineage

purpose

Question 11

benefit of the ‘reproduction’ function to society

Answer 11

creates the next generation of society

prevents population decrease

prevents ageing population

Question 12

benefit of the ‘socialisation’ function to the individual

Answer 12

better jobs

fit in

more intelligent

Question 13

benefit of the ‘socialisation’ function to society

Answer 13

value consensus

Question 14

benefit of the ‘economic’ function to the individual

Answer 14

people save money through cohabitation

basic needs are met

Question 15

benefit of the ‘economic’ function to society

Answer 15

less money spent on welfare by the state

e.g. child benefits unemployment benefits

Question 16

criticisms of Murdock

Answer 16

his definition of the family excludes different types of family

doesn’t consider alternatives to the family that may be able to carry out these functions (e.g. communes such as Kibbutz in Israel)

Ignores dysfunctions of the family

Question 17

what does Talcott Parsons argue about the family

Answer 17

the family has become increasingly specialised

pre-industrial times - we lived in extended family
- this family was responsible for looking after elderly relatives and educating children

modern industrial societies - families have become increasingly isolated and nuclear

traditional functions have been taken over by specialised institutions such as Social Services and Schools

Question 18

nuclear family

Answer 18

family of two generations (parents and children) related by blood or marriage that live together

Question 19

What are the 2 reasons that Talcott Parsons believed the change in family type has occurred because of

Answer 19

A geographically mobile workforce

A socially mobile workforce

Question 20

geographically mobile workforce

Answer 20

easier for the compact nuclear family to move where the work is, in industrial society

Question 21

socially mobile workforce

Answer 21

status now achieved through effort and not ascribed status at birth

if generations of different social classes were living together, this would cause conflict - hence it is better for individuals to live in a nuclear family

Question 22

what has happened to functions of the family as society has become industrialised

Answer 22

traditional functions have been taken over by specialised institutions such as social services and schools

Question 23

Talcott Parsons’ 2 irreductible functions of the family

Answer 23

Primary Socialisation

Stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)

Question 24

Primary socialisation

Answer 24

first and most important part of the socialisation process

where individuals learn the shared norms and values of society

without this there would be no consensus and no social order

Question 25

The stabilisation of adult personalities

Answer 25

unstable personalities threaten social order in the family adults can de-stress from all the tensions of daily life the woman provides emotional support for the husband children give the man opportunity to relax and be 'playful'

Question 26

criticisms of Parsons

Answer 26

idealises the family and ignores its' dysfunctions ethnocentric study - based on american middle class families - doesn't recognise diversity of families in today's societies - unrepresentative

Question 27

parsons' basic arguement

Answer 27

'functional fit' theory the family adapts to meet the needs of the society it is in

Question 28

ascribed status

Answer 28

status in which someone is born into or given at birth

Question 29

role allocation

Answer 29

assigning people to roles based on their talents and abilities education systems should perform this task initially

Question 29

achieved status

Answer 29

status which someone's actions have achieved and does not depend on their relations

Question 30

meritocracy

Answer 30

positions or rewards gained by individuals' own hard work and talent

Question 31

equality of opportunity

Answer 31

everyone has the same chances to compete for rewards in society: there is a 'level playing field' so the outcomes reflect hard work and application of talent

Question 32

what type of theory is functionalism

Answer 32

consensus

Question 33

which theorist put forward the organic analogy

Answer 33

Emile Durkheim

Question 34

the organic analogy

Answer 34

every part of the body has a function and they all link together in one big system to keep the body alive this is the same for society

Question 35

define function

Answer 35

a job that an activity or institution does for wider social structures, and in particular its contribution to the maintenance and continuation of social arrangements

Question 36

what two things did Durkheim identify that societies needed to have

Answer 36

value consensus social solidarity

Question 37

social solidarity

Answer 37

a sense of belonging and purpose

Question 38

value consensus

Answer 38

agreement on norms and values in society

Question 39

what 2 things maintain social order

Answer 39

socialisation social control and the operation of sanctions within society

Question 40

socialisation

Answer 40

the process of passing on norms and values

Question 41

what did Durkheim suggest about crime

Answer 41

reaffirms our collective conscience as society will unite to condemn criminals that go against our values crime is an essential part of healthy society as some deviance is necessary in order to stop society from becoming stagnant deviance becomes acceptable which leads society t adapt and change to new norms and values

Question 42

How did Durkheim adopt a scientific approach to his research

Answer 42

used the comparative method to establish a cause and effect relationship between social facts and rates of suicide this was ground-breaking in the field of sociology although it was later challenged

Question 43

What was the name of Wilmott & Young's theory?

Answer 43

The Symmetrical Family

Question 44

what research did W&Y use?

Answer 44

historical research social surveys

Question 45

W&Y - what were the 3 stages which caused the Symmetrical Family to emerge

Answer 45

1 - The pre-industrial family - unit of production 2 - the early industrial family - individuals employed as wage earners outside the family, family ceased to be a unit of production 3 - The Symmetrical Family