, Functionalism Functional fit theory - Parson:
o Nuclear family = 2 generation families (parents and children)
Four functions of the family - Murdock: o Extended family = 3+ generations living in a house
1. Stable satisfaction of sex drive o Pre-industrial society = geographical and social stability, close social
2. Reproduction of the next generation bonds
3. Meeting economic needs of members o Modern society = specialised division of labour, mobile workforce
4. Socialisation of young with weak social bonds
✓highlights functions ✓version of nuclear family ↳ nuclear family is better suited to modern society because smaller
exists in 250+ societies ✗can be done via other families can be more geographically mobile
institutions ✗ignores family conflict
✗ pre-industrial families were mainly nuclear (short life expectancy)
✗extended families were popular in industrial society ✗extended families
Irreducible functions - Parson:
are important
Family is more specialised and important due to
preformed functions (can’t be simplified) Loss of functions - Parson:
o Primary socialisation - learn shared norms and
Modern societies have changed so the nuclear family has lost functions.
values to gain value consensus
This is due to structural differentiation - specialised institutions evolve
o Stabilisation of adult personalities - provide
which performs these functions, including:
emotional security and sense of belonging - Sexual
- Economic (food, shelter, clothing)
Warm bath theory = married couple’s relationship - Reproduction
provides relief against societal problems (strengthens - Socialisation (teaching behaviour and life skills)
bond) o
✗women were always at home - no break ✗ignores ✓can find variations in almost all societies ✓many people experience
toxic/ abusive families ✗radical feminists: rose-tinted nuclear family life and aspire to live in one ✗homogeneous - assumes all
view, ignores violence and abuse families are the same ✗marxists - values/ norms support capitalism and
inequality
New Right o They believe the family is failing to provide adequate socialisation →
under-performance at school, anti-social behaviour
See family as the basis of society. They are critical of o Over generous welfare benefits → welfare dependency. “Nanny
single parent families as children need a male and state” = taking on too much responsibility
female role model for effective socialisation and they o Lone mothers become dependent on state benefits → “married to
cost too much in welfare benefits the state” → men don’t feel obligated to support their family →
increased rate of absent fathers
↳ changes in society (feminism, secularisation, welfare
benefits) have led to a decline in the nuclear family Murray (1989) - illegitimacy (children born out of marriage) → lack of
They are worried about the increase in: male role model → inadequately socialised. Work was unusual and they
- Lone parent families don’t know boundaries of acceptable behaviour → more likely to commit
- Fatherless families crime
- Divorce rates
- Cohabitation ✓recognises negative impact benefit dependence can have ✓single
- Gay and lesbian couples parent families are 2x likely to be in poverty ✗many non-nuclear families
provide loving, supportive homes whilst some nuclear families don’t
Dennis + Erdos - children from illegitimacy and single ✗vulnerable, poor children will suffer the most if benefits are cut
mothers have poorer health and lower educational ✗feminists - sexist attitudes, outdated and impractical ideas
attainment. Families are ‘deteriorating’, not changing
o Nuclear family = 2 generation families (parents and children)
Four functions of the family - Murdock: o Extended family = 3+ generations living in a house
1. Stable satisfaction of sex drive o Pre-industrial society = geographical and social stability, close social
2. Reproduction of the next generation bonds
3. Meeting economic needs of members o Modern society = specialised division of labour, mobile workforce
4. Socialisation of young with weak social bonds
✓highlights functions ✓version of nuclear family ↳ nuclear family is better suited to modern society because smaller
exists in 250+ societies ✗can be done via other families can be more geographically mobile
institutions ✗ignores family conflict
✗ pre-industrial families were mainly nuclear (short life expectancy)
✗extended families were popular in industrial society ✗extended families
Irreducible functions - Parson:
are important
Family is more specialised and important due to
preformed functions (can’t be simplified) Loss of functions - Parson:
o Primary socialisation - learn shared norms and
Modern societies have changed so the nuclear family has lost functions.
values to gain value consensus
This is due to structural differentiation - specialised institutions evolve
o Stabilisation of adult personalities - provide
which performs these functions, including:
emotional security and sense of belonging - Sexual
- Economic (food, shelter, clothing)
Warm bath theory = married couple’s relationship - Reproduction
provides relief against societal problems (strengthens - Socialisation (teaching behaviour and life skills)
bond) o
✗women were always at home - no break ✗ignores ✓can find variations in almost all societies ✓many people experience
toxic/ abusive families ✗radical feminists: rose-tinted nuclear family life and aspire to live in one ✗homogeneous - assumes all
view, ignores violence and abuse families are the same ✗marxists - values/ norms support capitalism and
inequality
New Right o They believe the family is failing to provide adequate socialisation →
under-performance at school, anti-social behaviour
See family as the basis of society. They are critical of o Over generous welfare benefits → welfare dependency. “Nanny
single parent families as children need a male and state” = taking on too much responsibility
female role model for effective socialisation and they o Lone mothers become dependent on state benefits → “married to
cost too much in welfare benefits the state” → men don’t feel obligated to support their family →
increased rate of absent fathers
↳ changes in society (feminism, secularisation, welfare
benefits) have led to a decline in the nuclear family Murray (1989) - illegitimacy (children born out of marriage) → lack of
They are worried about the increase in: male role model → inadequately socialised. Work was unusual and they
- Lone parent families don’t know boundaries of acceptable behaviour → more likely to commit
- Fatherless families crime
- Divorce rates
- Cohabitation ✓recognises negative impact benefit dependence can have ✓single
- Gay and lesbian couples parent families are 2x likely to be in poverty ✗many non-nuclear families
provide loving, supportive homes whilst some nuclear families don’t
Dennis + Erdos - children from illegitimacy and single ✗vulnerable, poor children will suffer the most if benefits are cut
mothers have poorer health and lower educational ✗feminists - sexist attitudes, outdated and impractical ideas
attainment. Families are ‘deteriorating’, not changing
