Functionalist

• George Murdock:


  4 essential functions of the Nuclear family -

  1. Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
  2. Reproduction of the next generation
  3. Meeting basic economic needs for survival
  4. Socialisation of the young.
• Talcott Parsons:


  Irreducible functions -

  1. Stabilisation of the adult personality (warm bath)
  2. Primary socialisation of children