Functionalism (families)

Question 1

Murdock

Answer 1

• view of a nuclear family, performing 4 functions;
• reproductive (identifiable male and female role model)
• sexual
• social
• economic (unit of production- wages and working/ unit of consumption- goods and services))

Question 2

Parsons

Answer 2

• nuclear family as primary socialisation of children (learn particularistic values)–> stabilisation of adult personalities lead to geographically mobile family (separated from kin within social mobility of jobs etc)
• expressive (female) vs instrumental (male) roles- males go out and make money as breadwinner, while females stay home as housewife (based on biological factors for effective socialisation)
• loss of functions- through process of specialisation and differentiation, family are reliant for critical functions (human personalities)

Question 3

Bell and Vogel

Answer 3

• child as emotional scapegoat for unresolved conflicts of parents
• stabilising influence

Question 4

Warm bath theory (Parsons)

Answer 4

• husband arrives home from stressful day at work and sinks into the ‘warm bath’ that his family provides
  –> stressed from day relieved by comfort of family home

Question 5

Criticisms of functionalism

Answer 5

• domestic violence threatens idealistic nuclear family
• 42% of marriages end in divorce
• other institutions can take on the roles of the family eg youth clubs
• doesn’t consider other family types