Topic 1Functionalist Perspectives (The Consensus View)
View linked note
Call Kai
Learn
Practice Test
Spaced Repetition
Match
Flashcards
Knowt Play1/19
There's no tags or description
Looks like no tags are added yet.
Name | Mastery | Learn | Test | Matching | Spaced | Call with Kai |
|---|
No analytics yet
Send a link to your students to track their progress
20 Terms
How do functionalists view society and the family?
Society is like a biological organism, and the family is the “heart” that keeps everything functioning.
Who was George Peter Murdock?
A functionalist sociologist who argued the nuclear family is universal.
What are Murdock’s 4 essential functions of the family?
: Sexual, reproductive, educational, and economic.
What is the sexual function?
Stabilises the adult sex drive and prevents social disruption.
What is the reproductive function?
Produces the next generation of society.
What is the educational function?
Primary socialisation of children into norms and values.
What is the economic function?
Provides food, shelter, and basic needs.
Who was Talcott Parsons?
A functionalist who developed the Functional Fit Theory.
What is the Functional Fit Theory?
The family structure changes to fit the needs of society.
What type of family existed in pre-industrial society?
Extended family.
Why was the extended family needed in pre-industrial society?
Families worked together as a unit of production (e.g., farming).
What type of family is needed in industrial society?
Nuclear family.
What is geographical mobility?
Small families can move easily for work.
What is social mobility?
Children can achieve a different (often higher) status than their parents without conflict.
What are Parsons’ two irreducible functions of the family?
Primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities.
What is primary socialisation?
Teaching children norms and values to fit into society.
What is the stabilisation of adult personalities?
The family supports adults emotionally.
What is the “Warm Bath Theory”?
The family relaxes and relieves stress for adults after work.
What is the “rose-tinted view” criticism?
Functionalists ignore problems like domestic violence and child abuse.
Why is the functionalist view considered outdated?
It assumes traditional gender roles (male breadwinner, female homemaker).
