Functionalism

What are the key ideas of functionalism?

• The nuclear family provides stabilisation and emotional security - cornerstone of society

• Very critical of cohabitation, divorce, single-parenting - blame crime and drugs

• Family enables society to function - the basic building block of society. (organic analogy)

Durkheim

• Nuclear family is an “organ” - necassary for society to function

• Core part of society - without it society would fail

• Conjugal family to be the essence of the family of his time

Murdock (1949)

• Family peforms 4 basic functions - sexual,repoructive, ecnomic and educational - society is not functional without these

• No other family type does it more effectively

Parsons

• Families perfomed an important role to keep people stable

• Family members give eachother care and support

Warm bath theory: Family is like a warm bath environment for the man, created by women