Functionalist theories

  • An indispensable sub-system of a functioning society


George Murdock:

  • Family is universal

  • It can take on different forms and structures (nuclear is the most common) but it almost always performs the same four functions:

1) Economic - buying material needs such as food, clothing and shelter which puts money into the economy.

2) Education - Parents passing down the norms and values of the society’s culture - primary socialisation.

3) Sexual - the family stabilises sexual relations by controlling the sex drive which helps to avoid promiscuity.

4) Reproductive - the family’s production of children.


Talcott Parsons:

  • Family is universal BUT it adapts to different types of society

  • ^^ Functionalist fit theory

  • Extended family structures and ascribed status suited agrarian pre-industrial society more BUT in a modern industrial society, isolated nuclear families work best in a geographically mobile workforce as well as ascribed status which allows for social mobility.

  • This is only possible with small nuclear families unburdened by a wider extended family which was usually very hierarchical with a dominant male that could prevent the social mobility of younger family members.

In modern society:

  • the modern nuclear family is less self-sufficient now that there are specialised organisations (NHS) which perform functions such as health care and education.

  • ^^ this is the process of structural differentiation

  • After this loss of functions, the family is left with two functions:


1) Primary socialisation so that the children internalise the societies’ norms and values

2) The stabilisation of adult personalities as the responsibility of childcare and emotional support prevents deviance and dysfunction.

Warm bath theory = The emotional stability and security of the family home


Functionalist views on social policies:

  • the state acts in the interests of society therefore its the policies work for the good of all

  • social policies help families to perform their functions more effectively and make life better for members.

  • ‘march of progress’ view - social policies make families and family life better and better over time