Functionalism

• Murdock

  250 societies (nuclear in all)

  4 functions (RESS)

  > Reproductive

  > Economic

  > Sexual

  > Socialisation
• Parsons

  > functional fit

  Geographical mobility (preindustrial - extended)

  (Modern - nuclear)

  Social mobility (preindustrial - status based on parents)

  (modern - meritocracy - move and form)
• Parsons


  > warm bath

  man comes back from work and can relax

  > instrumental - husband = breadwinnner

  > expressive - wife = nurturing + emotional
• Parsons


  2 key functions:

  > primary socialisation- basic skills and values to integrate

  > stabilisation of adult personalities - family = place to relax and return, refreshed to work
• Parsons


  loss of functions

  family lost educational and clothing functions

  > +ve as family can focus on emotional role

  other institutions have taken on these other roles
• Bell and Vogel


  children = emotional scapegoats

  > parents let out anger on them

  > stabilises family - good for society as it is private
• criticisms

  > overplay the harmonious nature

  > 42% of marriages end in divorce

  > parsons doesn’t consider other family types

  > ignores two way interactional process