Functionalism

• Who identified four key roles of the nuclear family?

  Murdock
• What are the four key roles that the nuclear family performs according to Murdock?

  Sex drive satisfaction, child socialisation, reproduction, economic functions
• What family structure did Parsons acknowledge as pre-industrial?

  Extended family
• What two functions does the modern nuclear family specialise in according to Parsons?

  Primary socialisation of children, stabilisation of adult personalities
• What is the 'warm bath theory' associated with Parsons?

  Stabilisation of adult personalities
• What does Parsons mean by 'functional fit' between the nuclear family and the industrial economy?

  Nuclear families are more mobile for work
• How did industrialisation change family roles according to Parsons?

  Introduced gendered roles: instrumental vs expressive
• What is structural differentiation as argued by Parsons?

  Families lost functions due to industrialisation
• What functions did families lose due to industrialisation according to Parsons?

  Education and childcare became institutionalised
• Who stated that the nuclear family is the foundation of society?

  Durkheim
• What does Durkheim say the nuclear family helps to reproduce?

  Value consensus
• What does a value consensus help to reduce according to Durkheim?

  Anomie
• What is a major criticism of functionalist theory regarding family structures?

  It ignores non-nuclear family structures
• Why is functionalist theory considered a macro theory?

  It generalises societal functions over individuals
• What do critics say about functionalism's view on gender roles?

  It reinforces traditional gender roles
• What do Marxists argue about functionalism's impact on society?

  It reproduces social inequality
• Why are functionalist findings considered outdated?

  They cannot be applied to modern society