Theories of the Family: Get you thinking tasks List 4 things your family does for you as a individual Stretch and challenge: Then list 4 things you think families do for society Theories of the Family: Functionalism Today’ title

To KNOW & UNDERSTAND what functionalism is. Lesson Objectives Thinking Ladder… To KNOW & UNDERSTAND what functionalism is. To KNOW & UNDERSTAND the functions of the family. To APPLY the functionalist approach to explaining the family using sociologists’ names and studies. Functionalist theories ofthe family

How will I know if I am learning? By the end of the lesson… Success Criteria How will I know if I am learning? By the end of the lesson… E-D Will be able to define Functionalism. C Will be able to explain the functions of the family. A Will be able to apply functionalism to the family and explain it using sociologists and studies. Functionalist theories ofthe family

Think carefully: How does Society compare to a Human Body and it’s Organs?

Human Body: The functionalist organic analogy 1)Imagine the heart: What is its role in the body, what happens if the heart stops functioning? 2)For functionalist’s the family is like societies heart. What does this suggest to you about how important they view the family for a healthy society ? 3) The heart is vitally important but on its own is it enough to maintain a healthy body? 4) What do you think this means for functionalist theory? What else might be needed to create a healthy society?

Society Functionalists think the same of Society Functionalists believe that society is made up of different subsystems (just like all the different organs in a body) which depend on each other. Each subsystem as a function and together they are vital for the running of society. Imagine this circle is society. What could all the different subsystems be? How do they work to make society function? How are they all connected? Society

Functionalism Argue that society is based on a value consensus: Key term! Make sure you have it defined in your notes Argue that society is based on a value consensus: Set of shared norms and values Allows individuals to cooperate harmoniously to meet societies needs and achieve shared goals Society is made up of parts that depend on each other (social institutions or agents!) e.g. the family, education system and the economy Think of a ‘British value’ (shared belief and attitude) How would it be shown in the way people behave? (norms) How do we learn about these?

Functionalism Social Institutions including the family… These institutions make up the structure of society, they like are the organs of body

Knowledge to really impress the examiner Functionalism Knowledge to really impress the examiner Is functionalism Structural or Social Action theory? Why? Is it Conflict or Consensus? Why?

Functions of the Family For functionalist each of these institutions (organs) have their own role and functions (things they do) for society. We will now look at the role or purpose of the family and what it does for its members and society What are the functions of the family?

Functions of the Family What are the Functions of the family? How to they help society? Use your book and the pictures in front of you… What are the functions that they represent?

Functions of the Family (Murdock) Think about Murdock’s Functions. Fill out the table using page 189 & your own ideas What is the function? How does it benefit individual members of society? How does it benefit society as a whole? Extension: Try and condense Murdock’s Functions down to 2 of the most important. Then condense these 2 down to 1. Which is the most important function and why?

Functions of the Family George Murdock (1949) argues that the family performs 4 essential functions to meet the needs of society. 1) Stable satisfaction of the sex drive

Functions of the Family George Murdock (1949) argues that the family performs 4 essential functions to meet the needs of society. 2) Reproduction of the next generation

Functions of the Family George Murdock (1949) argues that the family performs 4 essential functions to meet the needs of society. 3) Meeting the economic needs of it’s members

Functions of the Family George Murdock (1949) argues that the family performs 4 essential functions to meet the needs of society. Key Term Alert!!! “Socialisation” The process of learning the culture, norms and values of society. Norms? Values? Primary & Secondary Socialisation? 4) Socialisation of the young

Functions of the Family Murdock studied 250 societies of different cultures. (Good breadth of study!) Murdock saw that in each of these societies the nuclear family existed. He saw the nuclear family as providing these 4 important functions!

Functionalist theories of society are based on the assumption that society operates on the basis of consensus (agreement) and that there is a tendency towards equilibrium (balance) between the various parts of society so that they work together harmoniously. Functionalists tend to assume that if a social institution exists then it must have a function or purpose. The family is therefore often examined in terms of the functions it performs for the benefit of society and the individual. Murdock’s analysis of the universal functions of the family is a good example of this approach, with its emphasis on the essential functions of the family. Functionalists often see society as similar to a machine or a body, with many different parts contributing to the smooth running of the whole. Functionalist theories therefore stress the relationship between the family and other social institutions. For example, the family prepares children to become adult workers and take on roles in the economy to support themselves and their dependents. In this way the family system and the economic system are linked.

Functions of the Family (Murdock) Now use your table to see if you can find anything wrong with Murdock’s arguments. How could we criticise his functions?

Criticisms of Murdock Some argue they could be performed equally well through other institutions or a non-nuclear family. Is the family always harmonious and full of consensus? Or is this a rose-tinted view?

Criticisms of Murdock Marxists and feminists argue that functionalism neglects conflict and exploitation Feminists See the family as serving the needs of men Marxists Argue it meets the needs of capitalism, not those family members or society as a whole

To Finish: How far do you agree with the Functionalism view of the family so far? Why? Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree In the Middle

Parson’s functional fit theory

Talcott Parsons’ Functional Fit Theory The family may meet other needs: Welfare, military, political, religious functions The functions it performs will depend on the social construction Parsons (1955) argues there are two types of family structure: Nuclear family Extended family (three generations living under one roof)

Parsons’ Functional Fit Theory Two basic types of society Modern industrial society Traditional pre-industrial society The nuclear family fits the needs of industrial society and is the dominant family type in that society; the extended family fits the needs of the pre-industrial society Post industrial revolution (late 18th C onwards) - extended  nuclear

Industrial society has two different essential needs: A geographically mobile workforce People need to move to where the jobs are Parsons argues it is easier for the compact two- generation nuclear family, with just dependent children, to move

Industrial society has two different essential needs: 2. A socially mobile workforce Modern industrial society is based on constantly evolving science and technology so requires skilled technically competent workforce Essential that talented people are able to win promotion and take on the most important jobs Status is achieved  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 result of this is the mobile nuclear family which is structurally isolated from its extended kin without binding obligations towards them (unlike the pre-industrial extended family)

Loss of Functions The pre-industrial family was a multi-functional unit A unit of production A unit of consumption Therefore more self-sufficient Parsons argues that when society industrialises the family not only changes its structure but also loses some of its functions Family ceases to be a unit of production Family becomes a unit of consumption only Loses most of its other functions to other institutions such as schools and the health service

As a result: The modern nuclear family comes to specialise in performing just two essential or ‘irreducible’ functions: Primary socialisation Stabilisation of adult personalities

Criticisms! Functionalists have been accused of idealising the family. Ignoring conflict and abuse within families Ignoring gender inequality within families Ignoring the rising divorce rates Ignoring growing family diversity