Karteikarten
Functionalism
Karten in diesem Stapel (14)
- 1What is functionalism?A consensus theory - regarding society as a system that is made up of different sub-systems that are inter-dependable. They believe that society is based on a value consensus that we socialise new members into.
- 2Organic AnalogyAll parts of society working together
- 3Agents of socialisationNetwork of institutions (e.g. schools, families, religion)
- 4Value ConsensusSet of shared norms and values
- 5Social SolidaritySocial order in society
- 6Collective conscienceA sense of belonging
- 7AnomieA sense of formlessness
- 8Structural sociology/ macroSociety shapes the individual
- 92 most well know functionalists?George Murdock and Talcott Parsons
- 10What did Murdock argue?The family performs 4 basic and irreducible functions:
1. Sexual - couples in monogamous relationships, limits sexual access of others in society, maintaining social stability
2. Education - primary socialisation, transmitting norms and values
3. Reproductive - provides society with the next generation - bearing and raising children
4. Economic - houses, clothes and feeds its members - 11What does Parsons argue?Family types are shaped by societies needs and the economy, which changes as society changes - 'functional fit'.
2 types of family structure: extended (pre-industrial, many generations living together, all responsible for socialist children) and nuclear (industrial, parents and children)
Nuclear family is the ideal form because:
1. Geographically mobile workforce, easier for smaller numbers of people to relocate.
2. Socially Mobile Workforce, today promotions are more likely to be granted to skilled and talented people. If a son has a higher work position that his father, living apart can prevent tension and conflict.
The nuclear family has lost many of its functions to the school and the NHS, so specialise in 2 functions:
1. Primary socialisation - transmitting culture, norms and values: co-operate and integrate with society
2. Stabilisation of adult personalities - adults relax and release tension , emotional security, love and care in a healthy marital relationship. - 12Strengths of Functionalism (2)1. Draws attention to the importance of society as an institution
2. Shows the positive side of the family for individuals and society - 13Criticisms of Functionalism (7)1. Some people argue that others could performs the families functions equally as well.
2. Ignores family diversity
3. Murdock - 'rose tinted view' - too optimistic, not true reality. - presents the family as harmonious and integrated - ignores conflict.
4. Feminists - patricial gender roles that disadvantage women: expressive and instrumental roles challenged, old fashioned and outdated.
5. Marxists - family meets the needs of capitalism, and doesn't benefit society as a whole
6. Research is based on the same social groups that the writers themselves came from (white, middle class American males)
7. Nuclear family could become so isolate and close knit - emotional stress, high expectations. Breakdown in the extended family means that family support might not be there. - 14Evaluating Functionalism (3)Gonzalez: matrifocal families, USA & Caribbean. head of the family unit, lives with relatives - provide economic support. shows that females can be in charge of the nuclear family.
Kathleen Gough: studied Nayar community of Southern India, before puberty, all girls ritually married to suitable man, husband didn't live with his wife, and had no obligation to have contact - after puberty, number of visiting husbands for a sexual relationship. Shows that the traditional nuclear family isn't the only way that children can be raised and socialised.
Glittens - there is no universal family type that is found in all societies - Parsons and Murdock only basing their research on the social groups familiar to them.
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- Karteikarten am Functionalism, erstellt von Becky Hemming am 14/03/2017.
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- Becky Hemming
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