Functionalism

• Biological analogy: Compares different parts of society to the organs in a living person. They all work together to keep everything running smoothly.
• Murdock: Four functions

  • Stabilisation of sex drive
  • Primary socialisation
  • Reproduction
  • Economic needs of members
• Parsons: Two functions

  • Stabilisation of adult personalities
  • Primary socialisation.
• Overall functionalist evaluation:

  • Ignores dark side of the family
  • Does identify key functions
  • Based on a nuclear family, ignores diversity
• Parsons evaluation:

  • Theory is outdated
  • Emotional security can be performed by friends
  • Abuse can take place
  • Too simplistic
• Murdock evaluation:

  • Outdated e.g. more married couples cheat.
  • Functions can be performed by other institutions.
  • Only looks at nuclear family
• Value consensus: Agreement among society members about which values are important, a shared culture.
• Murdock:

  • Family incudes adults of both sexes and one or more children.
  • Studied 250 societies, nuclear family is universal.
• Functional fit theory:

  • Family adapts and changes to meet needs of society.
  • During industrial revolution there was an increase in nuclear family.
  • Father would work, mother raised new generation.
• Parsons:

  • Expressive role- Woman (nurture)
  • Instrumental role- Men (Work)