The New Right hold the view that the traditional nuclear family is the correct family type - based on biological differences. They argue family diversity is the cause of social problems such as high crime rates and educational failures.

-Amato (2000) children in lone-parent families face greater risks f poverty, educational failure, crime and health problems, as well as having an increased risk future family breakdown.
-The New Right favour cutting welfare benefits to reduce the dependency culture and encourage the conventional family

Chester: Neo-conventional family
- Chester (1985) argues the only important change is the move from the conventional family to the 'neo-conventional family'
- the neo-conventional family is when both parents are dual-earners in which both spouses go to work.

The Rapoports: 5 types of family diversity
-Rapoport (1982) argue that diversity is of central importance in understanding family life.
- Families in Britain have adapted to a pluralistic society - that is, one in which cultures and lifestyle are more diverse.
- diversity represents the freedom of choice and as a response to people's different needs.

Life Course analysis:
- the idea that there is flexibility and variation in people's family lives - in the choices they make, and in timing & sequence of events and turning points in their lives.
- Holdsworth & Morgan (2005) examine how young people experience leaving home, e.g. what age to leave home

Family Practices:
-Morgan (1996) uses the concept of 'family practices' to describe the routine actions through which we create our sense of 'being a family member'.
- Our family practices are influenced by the beliefs we have about our rights and obligations within the family.
- in his view, families are not concrete structures- they are simple what people actually do.

Postmodernism and family diversity
- Cheal (1993) argues that in the post modern society, family structures are fragmented and individuals have more choice. In post modern society there is no one type of family but families.
- Disadvantage: greater freedom produces instability
- Advantage: greater freedom means people can plot their own life course.

Beck: risk society and the negotiated family
- Beck (1992) risk society - tradition has less influence and people have more choice.
- Beck (1995) negotiated family do not conform to the traditional family norms, but vary according to the wishes of their members, who negotiate what is best form them.