Functionalism - families and households

• Murdock concluded that the family is so useful to society that it is inevitable and universal. Societies everywhere have family units.
• Murdock (1949) looked at 250 societies in different cultures.

  Murdock argued that some form of the nuclear family existed in all the 250 different societies he looked at.
• Murdock (Functionalist) agree that the family performed four basic functions:

  • Sexual
  • Reproductive
  • Economic
  • Educational
• Murdock (Functionalist)

  Sexual function in family:

  Provides a stable sexual relationship for adults and controls the sexual relationships of it's members.
• Murdock (Functionalist)

  Reproductive function in family:

  Provides new babies - new members of society.
• Murdock (Functionalist)

  Economic function in family:

  The family pools resources and provides for all it's members, adults and children.
• Murdock (Functionalist)

  Educational function in family:

  The family teaches children the norms and values of society, which keeps the values of society going.
• In the 1950s, American sociologist Talcott Parsons argued that the family always has two basic and vital functions. These are the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities.
• Primary socialisation is the process by which children learn and accept the values and norms of society. Parsons described families as 'factories' where the next citizens are produced.
• For adults, the family stabilises personalities through the emotional relationship between the parents. The emotional relationship gives the support and security needed to cope in the wider society. It's a sanctuary from the stress of everyday life.
• Functionalists see the positive nature of the family as two way. It's equally useful and beneficial to individuals and society.