Functionalist believe that society is
based on a value consensus (a set
of shared norms and values into
which society socialises its
members).
Functionalist see the family as a particularly important
sub-system - a basic building block of society.
Murdock argues that the family performs four
essential functions:
Stable Satisfaction of the Sex Drive
Reproduction of the Next Generation
Socialisation of the Young
Meeting its Members' Economic Needs
Criticisms of Murdock
Murdock accepts that other institutions could perform these functions.
He argues that the steer practicality of the nuclear family as a way of
meeting these four needs explains why it's universal.
Sociologists have criticised Murdock's functionalist approach:
Feminists see the family as serving the needs of men
and oppressing women
Marxists argue that it meets the needs of capitalism not those of family
members or society as a whole
Parsons' 'Functional fit' theory
In the view of Parsons, the functions the family performs will depend on the
kind of society in which its found. Parsons distinguishes between two kinds of
family structure
The nuclear family of just parents
and dependent children
The extended family of three
generations living under one roof
Parsons argues that the particular structure and functions of a
given type of family will 'fit' the needs of the society in which its
found.
He argues that the nuclear family fits the needs of
industrial society and is the dominant family type in
that society, while the extended family fits the needs
of pre-industrial society - the family had to adapt to
these
A Geographically Mobile Workforce
Parsons argues that it's easier for the compact two generation nuclear family, with just
two dependent children, to move, than for the three generation extended family.
The nuclear family is better fitted to the need that modern industry has for a
geographically mobile workforce.
Socially Mobile Workforce
In modern society, an individual's status is achieved by their own
efforts and ability, not ascribed by their social and family
background, and this makes social mobility possible
Parsons argues that the nuclear family is better
equipped than the extended family to meet the needs of
industrial society
The nuclear family encourages social
mobility as well as geographically mobility
Loss of Functions
According to Parsons, when society industrialises, the family not only changes its
structure from extended to nuclear, it also loses many of its function.
In Parsons view, as a result of this loss of functions, the modern nuclear family comes to specialise in
performing just two essential or 'irreducible' functions:
The Primary Socialisation of Children - to equip them with
basic skills and society's values
The Stabilisation of Adult Personalities - the family is a place where
adults can relax and release tensions