A Level Sociology Component 1 - Family & Households - FUNCTIONALIST KEY THINKERS.

What do functionalists believe society is based on?

Value consensus.

What does value consensus mean?

A shared set of norms and values into which society socialises its members. This enables them to cooperate harmoniously to meet society’s needs, achieve shared goals and maintains social order.

What do functionalists regard society as?

A system made up of different parts or institutions that depend on each other, such as the family, the education system and the economy.

What do functionalists compare the body to?

A biological organism like the human body. For example, just as the organs such as the heart or lungs perform functions vital to the well being of the body as a whole, social institutions meet the essential needs or roles of society.

What do functionalists see institutions, such as the family as?

Essential to the functioning of society as a whole. It plays a dominant role amongst all other social institutions in making individuals feel part of wider society. 

Murdock - How many societies did he analyse?

250

Murdock - From his analysis of 250 societies, what does he argue was the most important institution?

The family

Murdock - What was the family crucial for?

The continued existence of those societies

Murdock - What did he claim the nuclear family was?

Universal. This means that some form existed in every known society.

Murdock - For Murdock what did the family fulfil?

4 vital functions

Murdock - What were the four vital functions?

• Sexual

• Reproductive 

• Educational 

Murdock - What are all the functions?

Beneficial for the individual and society as a whole

Murdock - Sexual function. Function for the individual and function for society

• For the individual - Individuals desire or sex drive is met through a stable partner

• For society - Prevents a free for all in society and infidelity

Murdock - Educational function. Function for the individual and function for the society

• For the individual - young children are taught the norms and values of their society through primary socialisation. They learn to fit in and this maintains value consensus

• For society - It promotes social order, social cohesion and makes social life predictable as everyone knows how to behave

Murodock - Economic function. Function for the individual and function for the society 

• For the individual - family produces resources to ensure members have what they need. For example food and shelter. 

• For society - Society becomes economically stable as everybody has a job or role in society that helps society run

Murdock - Reproductive function. Function for the individual and function for the society.

• For the individual - Emotional needs are met through having children. 

• For society - The next generation are reproduced and continue society

Murdock - What does Murdock argue the functions reflect?

The value consensus of society, creating order and stability amongst all family members and society as a whole.

Murdock Evaluation - How would Marxist Althusser criticise Murdock’s ideas of the family?

In relation to the educational function. He argues the family performs the educational function, yet this benefits capitalism only. This is because children are socialised into the idea that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable 

Murdock Evaluation - How would postmodernists criticise Murdock’s work?

Murdock’s definition of the family is criticised for being too narrow. Postmodernists who value choice, diversity and individualism, would suggest that Murdock doesn’t take into account the variety of families that exist today. He excludes single parent families and gay families. For example, failing to recognise family diversity and change 

MURDOCK FINISHED

MURDOCK FINISHED

Parsons - What does parsons call his functions of the family?

Basic and irreducible 

Parsons - What family type did Parsons concentrate his analysis on?

Nuclear family

Parsons - What does Parsons argue has happened to society?

Its progressed.

Parsons - As society has progressed, what has happened to the family?

It has evolved to meet the changing needs of society

Parsons - As society has evolved, what is it now seen as according to Parsons?

A functional fit for modern society

Parsons - What had Parsons found the family retained?

Two basic and irreducible fucntions

Parsons - What are these two functions in relation to all societies?

The functions are common in all societies

Parsons - What has the family lost and how?

Its lost its wider functions due to geographical mobility as they have moved to new towns and cities for work and due to structural differentiation, where new institutions take over the roles of the extended family, such as the welfare state and businesses. This is known as the march of progress. 

Parsons - The two functions - ‘Primary socialisation of children’

For Parsons, a child could only become a social adult by internalising the shared norms and values of the society to which they belonged. For example, parents teach children manners and the value of hard work in support of societies goals. He therefore saw the nuclear families as ‘personality factories’, in which parents teach children societies value consensus in a positive way. This is known as the bridge theory 

Parsons - The two functions - ‘Stabilisation of adult personalities’ 

This function mainly focuses on the marriage relationship and the emotional security the couple provides for each other. According to Parsons, this serves to relive the stresses of modern day living for its adult members, and is often called the warm bath theory. The emotional support and security offered by the family releases stress and anxiety, promoting a positive well being for individuals allowing parents to fulfil their adult roles.

Parsons - How does Parsons’s see the family as?

Extremely functional arguing the family is a functional fit for modern society.

Parsons - What is the families existence?

Beneficial and necessary for the smooth running of society and the personal development of individuals 

Parsons - Before the emergence of the nuclear family, what did Parsons believe?

The extended family was dominate and multi functional  

Parsons Evaluation - How would Radical Psychiatrist Lang criticise Parsons?

Criticise the idea of primary socialisation. He argues we need to look at the darker side of the family and recognises that power relations within the family lead to parents terrorising their children and the process of socialisation is not always positive. This shows that although socialisation takes place, it’s not always positive and can damage mental health

Parsons Evaluation - How would Marxist Zaretsky criticise Parsons work?

He would argue against Parsons view of the family being a warm bath which benefits the individuals. Instead he states the family acts as a safety valve, which is a release from oppression at work benefiting capitalism not the individual, therefore allowing oppression to continue. This shows that the family is set up to promote capitalism not individual well being 

PARSONS 1 FINISHED

PARSONS 1 FINISHED

Parsons - What else did Parsons examine?

Gender roles within the family. 

Parsons - How did Parsons see the roles of wives and husbands as?

Originating in biology, arguing they were naturally designed to carry out particular roles within the family

Parsons - What do males perform?

Instrumental roles. For example, working and competing in the world as a breadwinner. 

Parsons - What do females perform?

Expressive role. They relieve stress and anxiety of the husband, providing care, love, warmth and emotional support. 

Parsons - What does Parsons argues happens when roles are carried out accordingly?

The family functions to its highest potential