Functionalism - Theories of the Family

Decline of Extended Family

• Parsons

• Family needs to be smaller to be more geographically mobile

• Avoids conflict between generations so nuclear family is better equipped

Murdock’s 4 functions of the family

• Reporduction

• Sexual

• Educational

• Economical

Warm Bath Theory

• Parsons

• Family acts as a support system for members of society to calm them down like a ‘warm bath’

• Helps with the stabilisation of adult personalities

Functionalists main idea

The family plays a positive role with contribution to society e.g through primary socialisation

Functionalists preferred family type

Nuclear family

Fit thesis

Family & society ‘fit’ together

• Families are developed over time to fit society

  • Pre-industrial: older, larger communities living & working in the same place

  • Industrial: Nuclear family as it fits the needs of industrial society

Expressive role

• Done by the woman

• Socialisation of children + emotional family needs

Instrumental role

• Done by the man

• Breadwinner + economic family needs

Criticisms against Murdock

• Does not focus on the oppression of women + only focuses on men’s needs

• Many of the functions can be completed with other family types

General Criticisms

• Only focuses on the positive side of the family and ignores possible family issues e.g domestic abuse

• Feminists argue that they reproduce patriarchy in the family by ignoring women’s needs/wants

• Morgan - Ignores other family types/issues in the family