Functionalist view

• Functionalists believe the main function of the family is to

  Maintain society
• What is the organic analogy

  Functionalists believe that society is a system which operates like the human body, each part with it's own specific role.
• What are Murdock's four functions of the family?

  Sexual

  Reproductive

  Socialising

  Economic

  He argues that the nuclear family is best suited for this role
• What is Parson's view of the family?

  The family is a tool for de-stressing from economic life.

  The husband provides for the children economically.

  The wife socialises the children into societies norms and values (primary socialisation) .

  The wife also calms down the husband after the stress of economic activity (stabilization of the adult personality).
• What is the difference between primary and secondary socialisation?

  Primary socialisation: done in the homes, where children are socialised into the norms and values of their family or community.

  Secondary socialisation: done by institutions like schools, media or religion to teach children universal norms and values of wider society.
• What is the stabilization of the Adult Personality?

  Parsons describes this as the 'warm bath theory', where when a man came home stressed from work, he could relax into his family like a warm bath, refreshing him for another day at work.
• Parsons updated Murdock's theory.

  He argued in modern, Western society, the state can provide education and an economic function (the welfare state), but the family still had two irreducible functions:

  Primary socialisation and Stabilization of the Adult Personality
• Weakness of the functionalist view 😭:

  Conflict theories like Marxists and Feminists state that this view is too idealistic and family life isn't like this for everyone. Many people have negative experiences of family life which may cause more stress rather than relieve it.
• Weakness of the functionalist view 😭:

  Postmodernists argue this view is outdated due to the increase in family diversity
• Weakness of the functionalist view 😭:

  The Marxist - feminist Ansley argues women in the family are takers of 💩, and feminists argue the function of the family is to maintain the patriarchy.
• Weakness of the functionalist view 😭:

  Marxists argue the family is a tool to maintain Capitalist society.