Theories of the Family

Positive views of the family
1. Functionalist theories
  1. GP Murdock
    1. 'Family is a universal institution'
      1. Four major functions
        Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
        Reproduction of next generation
        Socialisation of young
        Meeting it's members economic needs
    2. Criticisms
      1. Marxists & Feminists
        'Rose tinted'
        Neglects conflict and exploitation
        Meets needs of men - oppresses women
        Meets needs of capitalism - not family members and society
  2. Talcott Parsons
    1. 'Every family has two basic functions'
      1. Primary socialisation of children
        Children learn basic elements of culture through family
        Criticisms
        'Too deterministic'
        Attempts at socialisation can be resisted by children
        Socialisation is a 'two way process'
        Adults are not 'all powerfull'
      2. Stabilisation of adult personalities
        Family acts as 'safety valve'
        An escape from the outside world
        Provides emotional security
        Criticisms
        Marxist
        Zaretsky
        Family is 'a servant of the capitalist state'
        No cost to employers
        The family 'provides a distraction from the harsh realities of captitalism'
    2. The theory of 'fit'
      1. Dominant family type meets needs of the economy of the time
        Nuclear family fits needs of industrial economy
        Geographically mobile
        Not reliant on wider kin
      2. Criticisms
        Wilmott & Young
        Pre-industrial society was nuclear - not extended
  3. Evalualtion
    1. Analysis of nuclear family based around the middle class American version
    2. Parsons
      1. Work published in 50's - no longer relevant
        Westerns societies have become multi-cultural
    3. Feminist
      1. 'functionalists ignore 'the dark side' of the family'
        Conflict
        Male dominance
        Child abuse
      2. Insufficient attention to the 'dysfunctions of the family
  4. Basic func views
    1. Importaince of nuclear family
2. New Right thoeries
Critical views of the family
1. Marxist theories
2. Feminist theories

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	Criado por Laura Jenkinson quase 10 anos atrás