Murdock

• What four functions of the family did he identify?

  1. Sexual
  2. Reproductive
  3. Economic
  4. Education
• What did these 4 functions mean?

  1. Sexual - Marital sex creates a strong bond between a couple that commits the individual to family life.
  2. Reproductive - The family enables the continuity of society.
  3. Economic - The family should provide for the children e.g. food, water and shelter
  4. Education - The family should teach the accepted norms and values of society and pass on cultural traditions