Within the society, it socialises with its institutions and this gives the ability to meet the needs and goals of society. Functionalists also have a biological analogy and compare society to a living thing. For an example, the institutions (the organs of society) need to be healthy for it to work when its ‘sick’ society contains a lot of anomie (lack of shared norms and values). The family meets the needs of society such as the need to socialise children. Functionalists see the family as an important sub-system.
Body Paragraph # 2 Topic Sentence: There are differences in the three sociological theories of the family institution. Supporting Evidence: The conflict theory for the family does not believe in the myth that families are always harmonious but instead, believe that the family can deal with differences, change and conflict (Plunket, 2011). The functionalism theory for the family believes that the basic function for the nuclear family is that it fulfills four basic functions for society: the sexual, reproductive, economic and education functions ( Unknown, 2010). The interactionism looks at the ways that a family creates and re-creates themselves every day. This view looks at how the family unit is built through their interactions (Jacobsen,etc.
Parsons explains that if any of these fails then the family will not be equilibrium with other social systems in the United States (Morimoto, 2013). Parsons states that “The basic and irreducible functions of the family are two: the primary socialization of children so that they can truly become members of the society into which they have been born; second, the stabilization of the adult personalities of the population of the society” (Appelrouth & Edles, 2012). Parson believed it was important that children should be socialized into
George Peter Murdock found that nuclear families are universal. He also believed in 4 function of the family. These included of the nuclear family supplying a sexual function, as being a couple stabilises satisfaction of the sex drive with a constant partner and prevents social disruption, too supplies a reproductive function as being a family ensures new members of society to keep society going and an educational function as parents socialise their young into the norms and values of society. Also, he believes that the family have an economic function as they meet the economic needs of food and shelter. However, Murdock’s view of the nuclear family eliminate any other family structures, which too are able to supply these functions, and also neglects the conflict and exploitation of family.
Table of contents Introduction Definition of prosocial behaviour and brief explanation of the topic’s discussion Discussion of the topic Cultural factors a) Community set-up – how prosocial behaviour is expressed in different societies. b) Society norms Socialisation within the family a) Parenting styles b) Modelling and imitation c) Siblings The child’s individual characteristics a) Temper b) Sociability and Shyness Introduction Prosocial behaviour is a voluntary response to the needs of others. The response is driven by the motive to support other’s needs without expecting anything in return. Altruism is synonymous with prosocial behaviour. Altruism is regard for and dedication of the welfare of others (Alfred et al, 1976).
How do Families influence individuals FUNCTIONALISM According to functionalists, an individual is given the best possible chance of success if he or she is raised in a traditional nuclear family. When a family consists of a breadwinner husband, a wife who maintains strong family relations, and their biological children, it conforms to the dominant set of values and norms in Western societies. As a result, the family performs its intended function within society and the children grow up to be happy, healthy, and well-adjusted individuals. Conversely, children who grow up in nontraditional households (for example divorced or single-parent homes) are more likely to participate in deviant behavior. Although functionalism died out in the 1960s and 1970s, many Americans still consider the nuclear family the ideal family type and use it as a bench- mark against which to measure nontraditional families.63 When researchers consider the impact of divorce on children,the educational attainment of children from single-parent families, or the behavior of adopted children in same-sex families, they also use children from nuclear families as a benchmark for comparison.
Functionalism is about the structure of the nuclear family a self contained unit fulfils important functions to keep society running smoothly which Murcock (1949) claimed it is universal. Functionalism states that the family is an institution, which gives the individual members stability in society at large. Functionalists feel that society would not exist without the family. Murdoch argued that the family has evolved around sex, emotional stability, education and economic provision. Durkheim and Parsons were concerned with research that institutions have on society.
With much speculation, this topic has become a very intriguing argument. What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process or values that are taught to these children as they learn to mature. Children of single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social and behavioral skills as those with two parents. People claim that the only way for children to gain full emotional and behavioral skills is to be raised by both a mother and a father. When a topic such as this one has a broad amount of variables it is impossible to simply link these problems to only having one parent.
With much speculation, this topic has become a very intriguing argument. What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process or values that are taught to these children as they learn to mature. Children of single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social and behavioral skills as those with two parents. People claim that the only way for children to gain full emotional and behavioral skills is to be raised by both a mother and a father. When a topic such as this one has a broad amount of variables it is impossible to simply link these problems to only having one parent.
Family sociologically defined is: ‘a social unit consisting of people who support each other in several ways’ - those several ways being functions of the family. This essay will demonstrate a breadth of understanding in the functions of the family and will question whether the family is or is not losing its functions to other institutions in society such as the media and religion. Some sociologists such as functionalists would argue that the family is not losing its functions as it plays a part in ‘the organic analogy’ alongside the other institutions and plays a key part in society. Whereas other sociologists argue that the family is losing its functions to other institutions in society. Functionalists believe that the family teaches particularistic norms, which are specific household rules (e.g.