Functionalism and the Family 2a

Functionalism

• Society is more important than the individuals who comprise it.
• Social institutions (education, media, law, family, religion) shape individuals.
• If a social institution exists it must have a function.
• Consensus theory - value consensus (shared values and norms) - social order.

Family

• Cornerstone of society - dominant role amongst other institutions.
• Extremely functional, beneficial and necesary for smooth running of society.

GP Murdock

• Nuclear family is universal - 4 basic functions.
• Reproductive - survival of society, procreation usually occurs within a marital context.
• Sexual - unregulated sexual behaviour can be potentially socially disruptive. Marital sex creates an emotional bond and encourages fidelity and commitment to family life.
• Economic - parents provide children with things vital for sustaining life and take economic responsibility for their welfare. Benefits society because of division of labour.
• Educational - children learn social values and norms via primary socialisation from parents to be conformist citizens.

Evaluating Murdock

• Fails to acknowledge that families are the product of culture not biology and so family roles and relationships will…