What is the role of the family for the individual and society? » Functionalist views - loss of functions debate

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The functionalist perspective on the family in sociology
Key functions of the family according to functionalists
The loss of functions debate and how family roles have changed
Evaluation of functionalist views on the family
Contemporary relevance of functionalist theories

The Functionalist View of the Family

Functionalism is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology that views society as a complex system of interconnected parts working together to maintain stability. When functionalists study the family, they focus on how it contributes to the smooth running of society.

Key Definitions:

Functionalism: A theoretical perspective that sees society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain social stability.
Social institution: An established set of norms and relationships that fulfil important social needs (like the family, education, religion).
Nuclear family: A family unit consisting of parents and their dependent children.

👥 Key Functionalist Thinkers

George Peter Murdock studied hundreds of societies and identified four universal functions of the family: sexual, reproductive, economic and educational.

📚 Talcott Parsons

Parsons identified two essential functions of the family: primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities. He believed the nuclear family was best suited to modern industrial society.

Essential Functions of the Family

According to functionalists, the family performs several vital functions for both individuals and society as a whole:

🏠 For Individuals

Provides emotional support
Offers physical care and protection
Gives economic security
Provides a sense of identity and belonging

🏫 For Society

Reproduces and socialises new members
Regulates sexual behaviour
Transmits culture and values
Provides economic stability

📄 Murdock's Functions

Sexual: Controlled outlet for adults
Reproductive: Creating new members
Economic: Providing for needs
Educational: Teaching children

Parsons' Functional Theory

Talcott Parsons developed a more specific functionalist view of the family in industrial society. He argued that the family has adapted to meet the needs of modern society by becoming more specialised.

👩 Primary Socialisation

The process where children learn the basic norms and values of their society. Parsons believed this was crucial for creating well-adjusted members of society who understand the rules and expectations of their culture.

👨 Stabilisation of Adult Personalities

The family provides emotional support for adults dealing with the stresses of modern life. Parsons believed the family acts as a "haven" where adults can relax and recharge from the competitive world of work.

The Loss of Functions Debate

A key aspect of functionalist theory is the idea that the family has lost many of its traditional functions to other social institutions. This is known as the "loss of functions debate."

Historical Context: Pre-Industrial Family

Before industrialisation, families were typically extended (multiple generations living together) and functioned as economic units. They produced their own food, made their own clothes, educated their children, cared for the elderly and sick and provided entertainment.

Functions Lost by the Modern Family

According to functionalists, many traditional family functions have been transferred to other institutions:

Educational function: Formal education is now primarily provided by schools rather than parents
Economic production: Most families no longer produce goods but earn wages to purchase them
Healthcare: Professional medical services have replaced family care for illness
Welfare: Government services now provide support that extended families once offered
Religious function: Religious institutions have taken over spiritual education
Recreation: Entertainment is now largely provided by commercial services

Specialised Functions Remaining

Despite these losses, functionalists argue the family has become more specialised in its remaining functions:

💕 Emotional Support

The modern family focuses more on providing love, emotional support and a stable environment. This "emotional specialisation" is seen as crucial in an increasingly impersonal society.

🎓 Primary Socialisation

While schools teach academic subjects, families remain responsible for teaching basic values, manners and social skills during a child's formative years.

Case Study: The Symmetrical Family

In the 1970s, sociologists Young and Willmott studied families in London and identified what they called the "symmetrical family" - where husband and wife shared more equal roles. They argued this was an adaptation to modern society, showing how the family evolves rather than simply losing functions.

Evaluation of Functionalist Views

While functionalism provides useful insights into the role of the family, it has been criticised for several reasons:

⛔ Criticisms

Ignores family diversity
Overlooks conflict within families
Presents an idealised view
Gender-biased perspective

💡 Alternative Views

Marxists: family reproduces inequality
Feminists: family maintains patriarchy
Postmodernists: family forms are diverse

✅ Strengths

Identifies important social functions
Explains family's persistence
Shows adaptation over time

Contemporary Relevance

Despite criticisms, functionalist ideas remain relevant to understanding modern families:

Many families still perform the core functions identified by functionalists, even if in modified ways
The loss of functions debate helps explain why family structures have changed over time
The emotional function of families may be more important than ever in our digital age
Government policies often aim to support families in performing their functions (e.g., parental leave, child benefits)

Exam Tip

When discussing functionalist views in your exam, make sure to include both their perspective on family functions AND the loss of functions debate. Always include evaluation points that show you understand the limitations of functionalist theory.

Conclusion

Functionalism provides a framework for understanding how the family contributes to social stability by performing essential functions. While the family has lost some traditional functions to other institutions, functionalists argue it has become more specialised in providing emotional support and primary socialisation. However, this perspective has been criticised for overlooking diversity, conflict and power imbalances within families. A balanced understanding of the family requires considering multiple sociological perspectives.

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