families and households: theories of the family - functionalism

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  • functionalism
    • focuses on the functions of the family in society and for its members. it looks at how the family, as an institution, helps in maintaining order and stability in society, and the significance of the family for its individual members.
    • Murdock
      • a family 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 socially cohabiting adults.
      • distinguishes between a nuclear family and an extended family. he argues that the nuclear family is a universal institution that performs 4 main functions
        • Sexual
          • stable satisfaction of the sex drive withe the same partner prevents the social disruption caused by sexual 'free for all'
        • Reproduction
          • reproducing the next generation, without which society would not be able to continue
        • Socialisation
          • socialising the young into society's shared norms and values
        • Economic
          • meeting its members' economic needs, such as shelter and food
    • Parsons

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