functionalism and the family

?
Murdock's family functions (functionalist)
Reproductive - having children stabilises marriage and family life. Sexual - creates a powerful bond when you are married encourages loyalty. Educational - primary socialisation. Economic - to look after their child parents have to work
1 of 14
Criticisms of Murdock's family functions
very dated theory, there are now more modern beliefs. Very black and white theory, very conservative which isn't relevant for society today as there are more gays for example.
2 of 14
Primary socialisation - Parson (a functionalist)
the socialisation during early childhood years, takes place within the family. Two processes involved; the internalisation of society's culture, and the structuring of the personality.
3 of 14
Why is primary socialisation important?
then people would not have the same norms and values, social life wouldn't exist. Parson's says families are like factories which produce human personalities.
4 of 14
Stabilisation of adult personalities (Parson's)
personality must be kept stable, emphasis on marriage as it gives stability, a partner can counterweight the stress of everyday life.
5 of 14
Criticisms of Parson's theory
doesn't take into account that family life can be stressful and unhappy, theory doesn't make sense as if it did then siblings would have the same personalities, doesn't reflect everyone in society as research was only on one group.
6 of 14
Gender role socialisation - a family function
where children learn how they should behave based on whats expected of their gender.
7 of 14
Social control - a family function
sets out the rules of how you should behave, need to set boundaries for bad behaviour.
8 of 14
Social status - a family function
being born into a family results in statuses, huge impact on the opportunities we experience as we grow up, some families can offer more economic support than others.
9 of 14
Economic consumption - a family function
families are a unit of consumption, goods and services are mainly consumed by the family unit.
10 of 14
Recreation and leisure - a family function
parents started to see the outside world as risky for their children to be in so the family became an important part for leisure and recreation.
11 of 14
Protective and welfare function - a family function
children require economic support from parents, depends on the families socioeconomic status. welfare depends on family members supporting and caring for each other.
12 of 14
Give 3 ways a family can be dysfunctional
physical abuse, alcoholism, unfit parenting
13 of 14
Leach - a runaway world
modern families are 'isolated nuclear family', lacks wider kin support, leads to emotional stress. Results in conflict 'the parents fight; the children rebel'. tension in the family can cause conflict in wider society, so need to leave nuclear fam.
14 of 14

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Criticisms of Murdock's family functions

Back

very dated theory, there are now more modern beliefs. Very black and white theory, very conservative which isn't relevant for society today as there are more gays for example.

Card 3

Front

Primary socialisation - Parson (a functionalist)

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Why is primary socialisation important?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Stabilisation of adult personalities (Parson's)

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Sociology resources:

See all Sociology resources »See all Families and households resources »