...The functionalists have a very positive view of the family, as they see society as being based on a set of norms and values, a value consensus, into which society socialises its members. They see society as a system made up of different parts or sub-systems, and regard the family as a very important sub system, that works with other systems like education and the economy to meet the needs of society. The way in which all these systems collaborate is much similar to that of organs in an animal, as they all depend upon each other to function. The family is seen as the basic building block of society. Parsons believes that there are two kinds of family, and that the type of family found depends on the needs of the society at the time. The extended family of three generations was common during the pre-industrial stage, where the family relied upon each other for care in old age, care of children and economic survival. The nuclear family became prominent after the industrial revolution, with the needs of society changing, such as Britain needing a geographically mobile workforce that was capable of moving to get various jobs where they were available. Parsons argued that it is easier for the nuclear family to do so than it was for the 3 generation pre-industrial family. Another functionalist called Murdock largely agrees with Parsons, but says the nuclear family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members. Firstly, it provides stable satisfaction...
Words: 1033 - Pages: 5
...Functionalists see the family as an immensely important sub-system of society. Murdock acclaimed that one of the four essential functions that the family performs in order to meet the needs of society and its members is to 'stabilise satisfaction of the sex drive with the same partner'. As this prevents the ‘social disruption’ caused by promiscuity. However, Marxists would argue that this role serves more as an economic function, as it allows property ownership and wealth to be directly passed onto the legitimate heirs of the father. The second function that Murdock believed that the family performed was to 'reproduce the next generation' as without this function, society would not continue. The third purpose of the family is to socialise the young into society's shared norms and values. And lastly, the fourth function of the family is to meet its member’s economic needs and provide basic amenities such as shelter, clean water and food. According to Parson, there are two basic types of society, one of which is the traditional pre-industrial society, which he felt was more tailored to the extended family. In an extended family a vast number of people would be needed to successfully undertake tasks such as weaving and farming, in order for the family to make a profit and govern themselves. The other type of social group is the modern industrial society, which is more suited for the nuclear family, based on the theory of functional fit. Parson's Functional fit theory suggests...
Words: 1042 - Pages: 5
...Assess the functionalist views of the roles of the family (24 marks) Functionalists believe that society is based on value consensus; a set of shared norms and values. The value consensus helps to socialise member of society to create social order, by allowing the members to work with each other and meet the needs of society. The functionalist definition of a family is a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as one unit; the roles of the family are simply what the family actually provide for both the children and society as a whole. Murdock believes that the nuclear family has four essential functions within society; first key function is socialisation, which suggests that the family is needed to teach the norms and values to children to help integrate them into society, before they move onto secondary socialisation within education and later life. The second function is sexual; Murdock views this as an important part of the family because a healthy sex-drive is a key to reducing family disruption as the parents will be less likely to have affairs, and therefore helping to maintain a stable family structure. The third function is reproduction; this allows for the next generation of society to be born, which is essential as it helps the continuity of society. The last function is economical so the family can provide food, shelter, etc., for the children and the other members. Although Murdock’s theory is based on the nuclear family, he does see...
Words: 719 - Pages: 3
...the functionalist view of the role of the family in society (33 marks). Murdock, a functionalist, describes the family as a universal institution based on the nuclear family model. The functionalist view of the role of the family in society is that it maintains social order. The family is a tool for socialisation and a key social institution in sustaining the value that society works by consensus. Murdock identified four main functions of the family: sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. These four functions cover the role of the family in society. The sexual and reproductive functions are what keep society populated. If they became dysfunctional then society would not have the people inhabiting it. The economic function is the parent’s responsibility to take care of their family financially, usually through the division of labour where the man will take on the instrumental role of financial provider for the family while the woman will adopt the expressive role and take care of the home and family members. Marxists would contest this viewpoint arguing that the division of labour is capitalist dogma used to control the labour force and stop them from developing consciousness. The final function identified by Murdock was the educational functional, this is function where the family learns how to be socialised. It is this function that maintains the value consensus which allows society to remain functional. This is a key role of the family to functionalists if this...
Words: 587 - Pages: 3
...understanding of families and households. Functionalism is a macro approach to society. It is based on a consensus that society as whole is run by and for the benefit of all its members. Early Functionalists such as Durkheim believed that society is made up of many institutions which work together to function. Regarding families, Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is best for society. Functionalists look at what the functions the family performs and they therefore say that the nuclear family is best for society. For example functionalists believe that traditional domestic roles (for the male to play an instrumental role as the breadwinner and the female to do the dual-burden) are necessary to ensure that children are socialised correctly with both male and female role models. Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is perfect for bringing up a geographically mobile workforce which allows families to move about for work easily, for example Functionalists believe during the industrial revolution nuclear families became more common as it was easier for families to move to an urban area in search of work than if it was for example an extended family. Conflict theories such as Marxism and Feminism challenge the Functionalism and the consensus of society by taking a more critical view. Social historians such as Laslett and Anderson also criticize the functionalist view of a ‘Functional Fit’ in the family. The main supporters of Functionalism in the family are Murdock...
Words: 3354 - Pages: 14
...xamine Functionalists explanations of the family (24 marks) Functionalists believe that society is based on a set of shared values and norms; this is known as a value consensus. These norms and values socialize its members, which enables them to cooperate with each other so society’s needs are met, this creates social order. It offers a structural and macro view of the family which is top down. Functionalists see society as being similar to a biological organism for example the human body. This is called the organic analogy. The human body is made up of various different parts that function together, each part is necessary for the normal functioning of the whole body. Society is made up of various institutions (for example education or family), Functionalists believe that these institutions rely on each other each other which helps maintain social order. If one institution is quickly modified or fails to work with other institutions, society would be dysfunctional and would end up in anarchy. Functionalists compare this with the human body because if one component is unable to work, this often affects other components in the body, which could result in death. Functionalists believe that a family is a vital institution, which contributes to maintaining social order because it meets the needs of other institutions such as the education system, which enables society to function in a unified manner. Functionalists believes that the nuclear family fits society’s needs, however...
Words: 1331 - Pages: 6
...Family is universal and found in every culture. A family is defined as a set of people related by blood, marriage, or other agreed-on relationship, or adoption (Schaefer, 2011). We will view family through the following sociological theories: Functionalism, Conflict and Interactionism theory. Each theory has its own interpretation on family. First we must comprehend these three different perspectives, then their application of family and finally how those view of family affects society. The functionalist theory focuses on ways in which family gratifies the needs of its participants and is structured to maintain the stability of society (Schaefer, 2011). This perspective focuses on the six paramount functions described by sociologist William F. Ogburn (Schaefer, 2011). Family is responsible in establishing function in society by using the six paramount functions and they are reproduction, protection, socialization, regulation of sexual behavior, affection and companionship, and provision of social status (Schaefer, 2011). Functionalist theorists have opposing views on the particular functions that a family must perform but they all agree that family plays an integral part in the societal function. Sociologists, who work with the functionalist perspective, view family as contributing part of society’s basic needs and obtaining specialized roles in society. Functionalists believe that the family is an optimistic and advantageous foundation in which family members receive nurturing...
Words: 991 - Pages: 4
...Functionalist sociologists believe that the family is important; a key institution in society as it performs vital necessities for each member within it and maintains order and stability within the community. According to Murdock and his study of 250 societies, the family provides the reproduction of the future generations and passes down vital norms and beliefs learnt for the future however another Functionalist, Parsons, argues that the family is affected by industrialisation and demands a geographically mobile workforce. Parsons also claims that the family allows the socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities, therefore passing down these values and beliefs to be able to function within civilization. Therefore, the young members of the family are taught to abide by the rules the family has and not consort to any delinquent behaviour. However, there are many criticisms towards the Functionalist view of the family. Marxists believe that, among families, there is no consensus and that society is based on inequality between the two classes, the bourgeois (ruling class) and the proletariat (working class). The family is a part of the superstructure of capitalist society which operates not in the interests of society and all of its members equally but in the interests of the capitalist system and of the capitalist class within that system, contrasting the view of Functionalists. According to Marxists, Functionalists ignore the negative side of the family...
Words: 644 - Pages: 3
...FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS Examine the different functions performed by the family for individuals and society? The family is a unit of people living together tied down by biological or legal bonds. Functionalists take the family to be an important part on the way society works and therefore emphasise the importance of the function of the family. Functions are the jobs and roles of a particular object. Functionalists and Marxists are social systems, also known as structural thinkers. Structural theories define individuals as being completely shaped by our society and the way it works and is organised. Functionalism visualises society as socialising individuals into the shared norms and values, which dictate the way they will behave. Marxism and a majority of feminist groups are also classed as structural thinkers. Both functionalists and Marxists take a macro approach and make generalisations towards the role the nuclear family plays in society as a whole. However functionalists take a positive view of the role of the nuclear family whereas traditional Marxists and feminists have criticised the view. George Peter Murdock was a functionalist sociologist. From his study of 250 diverse societies he concluded that the family actually performs 4 basic functions, which are essential for social life. The first were sexual and reproductive which are important, as they are the means of producing members of society. Without these two major functions society itself would seize to exist...
Words: 2164 - Pages: 9
...Assess the view that the nuclear family functions to benefit all its members and society as a whole. A nuclear family can be defined as a unit consisting of a father, mother and their dependant children. There are many views against and for the nuclear family from a consensus perspective, a class perspective and a gender conflict perspective. The consensus sociologists, new right and functionalists, believe that the best and only type of family is the traditional, nuclear family. In contrast, the class and gender conflict sociologists, Marxists and feminists, argue that it meets the need of capitalism, not those of family members or society as a whole and see the family as serving the needs of men and oppressing women (feminists view). To evaluate the functions of the family, I will look into the different perspectives before any conclusions are made. The views of the functionalists are positive and see the nuclear family as the dominant family in society that meet the needs of all members of the family. Furthermore, as functionalists see the family as a particularly important sub-system- a basic block of society, functionalist sociologist George peter Murdock (1949) put forward three points that was mentioned in item 1. Item 1 suggests the family providing three basic functions: “stable satisfaction of sexual needs”, “ production and rearing of children” and “provision of a home”. These three points were put forward by Murdock while he put forward the case that the nuclear...
Words: 802 - Pages: 4
...evaluate the usefulness of functionalist approaches to our understanding of families and households (20) This essay will evaluating the usefulness of functionalist approaches such as the families four functions, the distribution of conjugal roles and the symmetrical family, and how these ideas contribute to our understanding of families and households today. The argument of which the family is an essential building block that reflects the wider needs of society is that of the functionalist approach. Murdoch (1949) argues that the family should feature four main functions, which include; stable satisfaction of the sex drive, reproduction, socialisation and economic needs. Murdoch also argues that the nuclear family is the best able to do this so the father can provide for the economic needs, as the breadwinner, and the mother provides socialisation. On the other hand, the feminist and Marxist perspectives identify that this is a ‘rose tinted’ view of the family unit, and a family rarely meets these expectations. Instead, single parents can just as easily serve the needs of their families and society without being a part of a traditional, nuclear family. Within these traditional nuclear families, the roles of husbands and wives are segregated into instrumental and expressive roles. The functionalist view of Parsons (1955) argues that the husband has the instrumental role, and so he is geared towards achieving success at work so that he can provide for the family financially. Whereas...
Words: 473 - Pages: 2
...item A and else where, assess the view that ‘the nuclear family functions to benefit all its members and society as a whole.’ (24 marks) According to Item A the nuclear family is the “ideal family type.” According to Murdock the nuclear family consists of a heterosexual couple that have at least one child. Murdock is a functionalist. Functionalists argue society is based on consensus (agreed norms and values). Consensus is achieved in society through the process of socialisation, which involves individuals learning norms and values. Norms and values are transmitted to children through social institutions such as the nuclear family. This benefits all members of society as it prevents anomie (chaos) and because it encourages social integration and social solidarity. Murdock argues that the family benefits all members of society as it performs four essential functions (sexual, economic, reproduction and socialization). Similarly Parsons argues that the family has two irreducible functions (primary socialization and stabalising adult personalities). Another functionalist, Fletcher, argues that the family performs three essential functions (regulation of sexual behavior; reproduction and child-rearing and home provisions). However, Marxists (such as Marx and Engels) argue that individuals don’t benefit from society, only the bourgeoisie benefits. Feminists (such as Liberal and radical feminists) criticize the functionalist view of the nuclear family and argue that women are ignored...
Words: 955 - Pages: 4
...------------------------------------------------- Scly1 Summer 2013 Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family. INSTRUCTIONS to candidates AS ESSAY – Scly1 Family/Households - 24marks – 24 minutes i.e. 2-2.5 pages average sized handwriting (2 pages typed) (AO1-10 & AO2-14) * ADD your Name/Option Group to the header * Size 12 font/calibri * Email a copy to MY. * Print /submit hard copy to your sociology teacher [print off the whole document] Essay Cover sheet MTG (circle): | A | B | C | Grade (circle): | A | B | C | D | E | Teacher Name: MARK YELLAND | Raw Mark: | | Unit (circle): | Scly | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Section (circle): | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Green Pen (when you ‘green pen’ add your comments/extra points in the box below) | Student self-evaluation (circle the numbers successfully completed) i.e. I have: 1. Used largely accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation. 2. Written 3/4/5 sentences for every paragraph, in continuous prose ( & No bullets & No hyphens & No forward slash) 3. Written 1 page every 10mins (e.g. 30mins=3 pages). 4. Written the first paragraph outlining the ‘big picture’ including key specialist vocabulary. 5. Referenced the key terms from the question in every paragraph (& underlined them in the question). 6. Used the majority of the key concepts/ideas from the MS (& ER). 7. Used at least 5 sources...
Words: 2088 - Pages: 9
...Homework; Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist view of society. Functionalism is seen as a macro scale approach to society as it doesn’t focus on individual aspects of it but looks at it as a whole. They associate society with a biological organism and Parsons identifies 3 similarities between these two. The first is the system organisms, both society and biological organisms are self-regulating but have parts which are all inter-related to help function as a whole (in the body; cells & organs, in society; institutions). The second similarity is headed system needs, and the last is functions as for example in the body each organ contributes to something different and within society each institution is present for a different purpose. This macro scale approach can be seen as a strength as it allows all sociologist from the functionalist perspective to observe society and the institutions within as a whole. The functionalists also see society as something positive and something that benefits everyone as they believe it focuses on the needs of the whole. An aspect of the functionalist theory is that they believe society is based on value consensus whereby all norms and values are agreed on by members of the society. The functionalists believe that many societies have in placed democracy as the norms and values have come to a state where everyone agrees with them. This can be seen as a strength as the Functionalists are seen to realise that democracy exists in many...
Words: 1010 - Pages: 5
...Assess the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family (24 marks) Functionalists employ the idea of the nuclear family being the main universal family in society and most benefitting. The nuclear family functions to meet the pro dominant means of society (sexual reproduction, educational and economic functions). The family allows each member of the family to shine individually and enjoy success. The functionalist sociologist Murdock believed that the nuclear family is found in every society because it performs four main functions that are essential to the existence of society and no other institution can perform. The four are reproductive, sexual, educational and economic. He said that the reproductive function was vital because it was vital for society to survive; he saw the family as the best place for reproduction to take place. Similarly, he believed that the sexual function should take place within the family, because if sex is controlled by keeping it in the family it helps maintain stability and it binds the couple together rather than having a free for all. Murdock saw education as an important function for the family. The family socialises children into society’s values and norms. The final function that Murdock identified was the economic one. The family provides for its members’ basic needs such as food and shelter. There are other sociologists who have criticised Murdock’s views of the family. He sees the family as only nuclear when...
Words: 1208 - Pages: 5
