Sociology : Family Unit - Sociologists

Functionalist

Murdock : 4 functions of the family

Theory:

• Stable satisfaction of the sex drive - being social with your partner ; you allow no disruption in the family, allowing the continuation of society without the 1 parent missing and destroying the idea of the nuclear family.
• Reproduction of the next generation - society needs the continuation of members (babies) to allow society to continue to work. Without more members being brought in, there wouldn’t be no society.
• Socialisation of the next generation - new members of the new generation must be introduced to the norms and values at a young age and this must be continued so that people in the future don’t go feral and fall into chaos.
• Satisfying economic needs - new members need the basic necessities to keep them stable and calm, this prevents outrage and chaos in society.

Criticism:

• Outdated ; increase in family diversity in the modern age
• Ignores the dark side of the family ; abuse and neglect
• Patriarchal ; burden on women ; women have to take up all the functions

parsons : ‘Warm Bath Theory’

• ‘Warm Bath Theory’ - an analogy made to represent the household as a safe heaven for all members ; carried out by woman of the house. All of the member’s mental problems are resolved and that

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