functionalist perspective on family

• best fit theory


  families change depending on what is best suited for the society at the time
• social institutions


  structures in society which influence family's behaviour
• universal nuclear family


  family consisting of 2 generations - heterosexual parents and children which exists all over the world
• functionalist view of the family


  family is corner stone in society

  performs essential functions supporting social cohesion and stability
• 4 functions of the family - murdock


  sexual - adult sexual relationships controlled/socially acceptable

  reproduction - biological production of next generations

  socialisation - teaching norms/values so next generation are fully integrated into society

  economic - meets members economic needs
• functions of the family - parsons


  primary socialisation

  stabilisation of adult personalities
• primary socialisation - parsons


  family socialises children into values, beliefs, and norms of society

  without this society would cease to exist as generations wouldn't adhere to norms / values

  necessary for gender role socialisation

  families are factories producing human personalities which only the family can provide the emotional warmth and security for
• stabilisation of adult personalities - parsons


  warm bath theory

  emotional security achieved between 2 married partners

  family is place for working man to destress via wife = reduces conflict in society

  stabilization achieved via biologically determined roles
• evaluation of functionalist view of family - internal


  best fit theory - nuclear family not always universal

  structural differentiation - some functions taken over by other institutions
• evaluation of functionalist view of family


  downplays role of conflict

  out of date - women now go to work and both partners likely to be performing both roles in family

  deterministic - socialisation not always 100% effective

  ignores diversity

  ignores exploitation of women int he family

  ignores harmful effects of family
• evaluation of murdock - economic necessity of nuclear family


  anyone can provide food / shelter etc

  set roles not necessary for this - can be to 'expressive' women
• evaluation of murdock - socialisation necessity of nuclear family


  provided by other institutions now - e.g., compensatory education
• evaluation of murdock - reproductive necessity of nuclear family


  children via surrogacy and adoption

  not every family wants children

  1970s onwards = increase in children born and sex outside of marriage
• evaluation of murdock - sexual necessity of nuclear family


  sexual relations occur outside of the family
• parsons - functional fit theory of family


  functions of family depend on what society it is in
• parsons, young and willmot, fletcher - nuclear family and functional fit theory


  classic extended family has largely disappeared and the privatised nuclear family is now the dominant family type

  individually focused, more aware of what is occurring on TV than in community, self contained with free time spent with family
• 6 key reasons for the decline in extended families in society - functionalism

  higher rates of social mobility

  small unit for geographical mobility

  greater affluence and reduced family functions

  more meritocratic society

  avoiding status and economic conflict

  strengthened bonds between partners
• higher rates of social mobility - functionalist explanations for decline in extended families 


  no longer ascribed status

  people can move up and down social ladder compared to where their family is

  people in the same extended family find themselves in different jobs, education, incomes, lifestyles etc

  weakens kin links
• small unit for geographical mobility - functionalist explanations for decline in extended family


  contemporary society = specialised division of labour meaning labour force needs to be geographically mobile to move where skills needed

  often involves leaving relatives behind = weakens / breaks traditional extended family life
• greater affluence and reduced family functions - functionalist explanations for decline in extended family


  people are better off today and welfare state has taken over functions such as education and health previously performed by family

  reduces dependance upon kin to perform these functions, weakening the extended family
• more meritocratic society - functionalist explanations for decline in extended family


  society is now more what you know vs who you know

  extended kin have less to offer families such as job opportunities = reduced reliance on kin

  kin links can still remain important in upper classes for wealth inheritance etc
• avoiding economic / status conflict - functionalist explanations for decline in extended family


  different occupations, incomes, lifestyles and statuses of extended family members who live together may cause family conflict and instability
• strengthened bonds between partners - functionalist explanations for decline in extended family


  lack of support from kin in isolated nuclear family

  parson - helps cement family relationships by increasing mutual dependancy of partners, which increases stabilisation of adult personalities

  relationships seen as priority
• leach - evaluation of functionalist view on family (harmful effects)


  in modern society the nuclear family has become so isolated that it has become an inward-looking institution that leads to emotional stress

  family members expect and demand too much from one another