Functionalism Lesson objective: November 18 Functionalism Lesson objective: To understand the key arguments, their strengths and weaknesses

November 18 Learning Objectives To understand the view that functionalists have of the family To evaluate the view of functionalists Important Sociologists: George Peter Murdock Talcott Parsons Emile Durkheim Key terms/concepts: Functionalism Nuclear family Socialisation Extended family Pre-industrial society Industrial society SRO 2011

Functionalism The organic analogy Functionalists ask, what function does it serve for society?

November 18 Starter Mini-whiteboards: As I read out a part of the human body you need to write on the mini-whiteboard the function that the organ carries out What function does the family have for society?

Copy your body onto paper. November 18 Starter Copy your body onto paper. Now write a list of all the functions the family serves.

How do Functionalists view the family? November 18 How do Functionalists view the family? Just like an organ in the human body, functionalists believe that the family enables society to function. Society, according to functionalists, is made up of sub-systems that depend on each other and help society to work. The family is the basic building block of society which helps to maintain social order and social cohesion.

George Peter Murdock (1949) November 18 George Peter Murdock (1949) We have already looked at Murdock’s views about the universality of the nuclear family. TASK He also argues that the nuclear family is the most functional type of family unit. He identifies four functions. Can you guess them?

George Peter Murdock (1949) November 18 George Peter Murdock (1949) The family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members: Stable satisfaction of the sex drive Reproduction of the next generation Socialisation of the young Meeting its members’ economic needs

Two main functions a. Socialisation: The family is an integrating mechanism in society: b. Social Order: The family as a unit of stability:

George Peter Murdock (1949) November 18 George Peter Murdock (1949) TASK Try and think of a supporting example from contemporary society for each of these functions

George Peter Murdock (1949) November 18 George Peter Murdock (1949) Please bear in mind… Murdock recognises that other institutions could perform these functions but argues that the nuclear family is universal (in the 250 societies he studied) because of its ‘sheer practicality’ in performing the four essential functions. SRO 2011

George Peter Murdock (1949) November 18 George Peter Murdock (1949) TASK Can you think of any criticisms? What might Marxists or feminists say?

November 18 Criticisms of Murdock Other institutions and family types can carry out the functions (he knew that…see last slide) Murdock has a ‘rose tinted’ harmonious consensus view Feminists: the family serves the need of men and oppresses women Marxists: the family meets the needs of capitalism, not the needs to family members and society as a whole

Lesson objectives: #1 to analyse the homework findings #2 to revise Murdock #3 to explore the ideas of Parsons, Durkheim, Fletcher and Merton SRO 2011

November 18 Talcott Parsons (1955) As we learnt last lesson (hopefully?!), the family can perform many functions. The functions that it performs will depend on the needs of society. This is known as the ‘functional fit’ theory Pre-industrial society = extended family Industrial society = nuclear family

November 18 Loss of functions Parsons also argues that the family in modern society has lost many of its functions as it has become a unit of consumption only (rather than also being a unit of production)

November 18 Loss of functions In modern society the nuclear family has just two essential or ‘irreducible’ functions: Primary socialisation of children Stabilisation of adult personalities

Talcott Parsons His theory has often been branded the ‘warm bath theory’ – why do you think this is?

Talcott Parsons Instrumental role Expressive role MARY DAVE

A husband arrives home from work A husband arrives home from work. He could be thinking and or feeling the following:   Stress deadlines competition productivity Pace of life job insecurity money Overtime promotion commuting What he needs is a ‘warm bath’ to sink into (a metaphor for the home and family). The family eases and soothes stresses (like a bath) one experiences at work. The family provides a release from everyday life. Ultimately the family helps stabilise ones personality and in turn wider society.

Talcott Parsons A02 LEARNING CHECK The warm bath theory is a term often used by detractors who criticize Parsons. Parsons did not use this expression.

Emile Durkheim The family is a moral not just biological association November 18 Emile Durkheim “it is the idea that the family has varied infinitely since the origin of humanity…” The family is a moral not just biological association Society places moral demands of parents to ensure that they accept the child into the family The family contributes to social solidarity and the passing on of norms and values

Fletcher a. Procreation and Child-Rearing: The family structure provides a legitimate arena for the bearing and raising of children. Given the relative helplessness of children at birth, parental nurture and care is seen as vital - and the family provides a solid basis for such care and support in the early years of a child's social development.   SRO 2011

Fletcher b. Regulation of Sexual Behaviour: Family structure serves to limit and contain "petty" sexual jealousies and by defining the limits of sexual freedom, the family structure limits the chances of potentially damaging sexual relationships developing. The family is a primary institution for the provision of love, care and emotional support for both children and adults. In short, it provides a sense of belonging and serves to clearly-define role relationships between men and women.  

Fletcher C) Provision of a Home: This idea expresses the assumption that people find comfort and security within primary social and sexual relationships. The "home" not only provides physical shelter, it also serves as the focal point of family existence - clearly demarcating the division between various wider-social roles, for example  SRO 2011

Robert Merton (A02 Neo-functionalist) Functional alternatives: Institutions like religion and the family can be replaced with alternatives such as ideologies like communism and he argued that  they would still be able to perform the same functions in society.

Write a paragraph identifying one reason why the functionalist theories of the family are criticised. Use P.E.E SRO 2011

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS Stable satisfaction of the sex drive Reproduction of the next generation Socialisation of the young Meeting its members’ economic needs Socialisation Social order Provision of a home Regulation of sexual behaviour Pro-creation and child rearing Social solidarity Moral responsibility of parents Stabilisation of adult personalities