Outline and evaluate the functionalist view of the role of the family in society. 33 marks - 25 minutes. A family is a kinship - people related by blood or marriage. Functionalism is a macro theory which means it looks at a wider sociological view. It focuses on the importance of the nuclear family (mother and father married with children)‚ the universality of the family‚ changing roles and how the nuclear family “fits” into modern society. The theory of “fit” is argued by Parsons‚ where he believes
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sociologists the family is one of the most important social groups in society.It is formed through bonds of marriage and kinship.In all types of societies the family is seen as the norm but can vary in terms of what actually is meant by the ‘norm’;and what is acceptableaccroiding to the rules of that particular society.But what every family has in common is that it provides the same benefits which are security‚socialisation and companisionship. This essay will highlight the different types of family in our
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Examine the functionalist’s perspective on the family. In this essay the functionalist’s perspective will be examined on their viewpoint of the family. Also Marxists‚ feminists and new rights perspective will be taken into consideration. The overall functionalist theory on the family is that it performs positive functions for individuals and society. One of the most influential functionalists was Talcott parson whose understanding of the family was that it provides the primary socialisation of
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‘Assess the functionalist view of the family?’ Functionalist looks at society on a macro level. It is a consensus theory and structuralists prefer to use functionalism as it agrees with their ideals and models and they prefer to look at society as a whole. Functionalists are interested in studying what family is most functional. This essay will assess how functionalists view point of the family by exploring Murdock‚ Comte‚ Parsons and Durkheim‚ the founder of functionalism‚ ideas and evaluating
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Examine the functionalist view of the family Broadly speaking‚ the functionalist perspective has focused on the functions of the family in society and for its members. In other words‚ it looks at how the family‚ as an institution‚ helps in maintaining order and stability in society‚ and the significance of the family for its individual members. There are two main functionalist views on the family – Murdock’s view and Parsons’ view. Murdock’s view on the family is that the family performs four basic
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The family is an example of a social structure. It is made up of a group of people in society related by blood or marriage‚ ties or strong bond‚ usually consisting of one or two parents and their children. Social structure is the unique organised arrangement of social relationships and social institutions that make up society. Social structures are present in society and affect all parts of human experience. It enables individuals in the society to interact and live together. This essay will compare
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Assess the usefulness of the Functionalist view of the family (24 marks) Functionalism is a macro theory and so looks at things on a large scale they consist of structural theorists. They see society as being similar to a human body‚ in that the essential organs in the body perform specific functions. This is like society as one of the essential organs in society is the family‚ as it performs essential functions which serve the needs of the family. And that each part of the body works in harmony
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Assess functionalist views of the role of the family. What do Functionalists believe the role of the family is? Try to back these up using examples of functionalist sociologists. The whole family has an important part to play within our society and each member have a job to do to keep the family together. Just as Talcott Parsons suggested the theory of functionalism means that the function of anything is about the job that is set to do. However Parsons‚ along with Wilmott and Young argued that
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Functionalists agree with many of the positive aspects of the family such as provision of care and teachings of norms and values. The three main functionalist sociologists in this topic are Murdock‚ Parsons and Fletcher‚ who all have a different view towards family but main argument is the functions it provides for society. Murdock believes that the family have to provide 4 main functions: primary socialisation‚ financial support‚ the meeting of sexual and emotional needs and reproduction. These
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interaction with others once outside the family. It seems to me that I would be more of a functionalist rather than a conflict theorist. In modern societies the boundaries between the functionalist theory and the conflict theory are less clearly defined than in the times of Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim. However the main class groups such as landowners and the working class can still be identified in most societies. It seems to me that I would be more of a functionalist rather than a conflict theorist.
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