Modernist approaches to the family place a higher importance on the nuclear family. They take a 'top-down' approach, that the family shapes people's behaviour. However, other sociologists argue there is not one 'best' family.
Postmodernists and social action theories argue modernist approaches ignore two key facts:
We make choices about our family and relationships and now have much greater choice about our personal relationships which has led to increased family diversity so there is no longer a 'best' family type.
