functionalist approach 2

Question 1

what type of theory is functionalism?

Answer 1

a structural consensus theory

Question 2

what does structural mean?

Answer 2

social structure that shapes individual behaviour through socialisation

Question 3

what does consensus mean?

Answer 3

shared set of norms and values enabling people to co-operate and work together

Question 4

what is the role of the family according to functionalists?

Answer 4

socialises children and meets emotional needs for parents

Question 5

what is the role of education according to functionalists?

Answer 5

teaches broader life skills, and the workplace is where we contribute to the economy

Question 6

what institution teaches meritocracy?

Answer 6

educational institutions

Question 7

how do functionalists view the family?

Answer 7

as an essential building block of a stable society

Question 8

what is the best type of family according to functionalists?

Answer 8

the nuclear family

Question 9

what is the nuclear family?

Answer 9

unit consisting of two parents and their dependent children

Question 10

who are the main functionalist theorists?

Answer 10

Parsons and Murdock

Question 11

how did Murdock conduct his study?

Answer 11

looked at 200 different societies

Question 12

what did Murdock find after looking at 200 different societies?

Answer 12

the nuclear family is universal

Question 13

what are the 4 essential functions of the family according to Murdock?

Answer 13

1) reproduction
2) sexual
3) socialisation/education
4) economic

Question 14

why does Murdock say that sexual is one of the main functions?

Answer 14

by having a monogamous relationship it prevents jealousy

Question 15

why does Murdock say that reproduction is a main function of the family?

Answer 15

having children continues society

Question 16

why does Murdock say socialisation/ education is a main function of the family?

Answer 16

teaches children the basic norms and values of society

Question 17

why does Murdock say economic is on of the main functions of the family?

Answer 17

proving shelter/food and consuming products

Question 18

what did Parsons develop?

Answer 18

the functional fit theory

Question 19

what does Parsons mean by the functional fit theory?

Answer 19

as society changes the type of family that fits best also changes

Question 20

what does Parsons say about the pre-industrial period?

Answer 20

extended families were common

Question 21

what did Parsons say about the industrial period?

Answer 21

nuclear families became more common as they are more mobile, fitting the needs of the industrial economy better

Question 22

what are the two main functions of the family according to Parsons?

Answer 22

1)primary socialisation
2) stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 23

what does parsons say primary socialisation is ?

Answer 23

teaching children the norms and values of society

Question 24

what does parsons say the stabilisation of adult personalities is?

Answer 24

providing emotional support for parents to help them cope with the stresses of working like

Question 25

why do functionalist believe a stable family is crucial for society?

Answer 25

it creates social order and economic stability

Question 26

what are criticisms of the functionalist approaches?

Answer 26

1) downplays conflict within the family ('too rosy') 2) too dated (instrumental and expressive roles very traditional) 3) ignored changing roles of men and women in contemporary society 4) too deterministic (ignores children actively choosing their own personalities)

Question 27

what do functionalists say society is like?

Answer 27

the organs in a human body

Question 28

why do they say society is like organs in a human body?

Answer 28

a system is made up of different parts which preform specific functions and depend on each other too keep society going

Question 29

what is the main criticisms of Murdock?

Answer 29

feminists would argue that arguing that the family is essential is ideological because traditional family structured typically disadvantage women

Question 30

what are the main criticism of parsons 'functional fit' theory?

Answer 30

1) it is too 'neat' as social change does not occur in such orderly way

Question 31

what did critic Lassett find?

Answer 31

according to church records, only 10% of households contained extended kin before the industrial revolution. suggesting families were already nuclear before industrialisation

Question 32

what did critics Willmot and Young say?

Answer 32

extended kin networks were still strong in east london as late as the 1970s