As in performing these functions the family links up with other institutions, providing future pupils for education, workers for the economy, and so on. Murdock also argues that the family performs four basic functions which are; sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. From his study of 250 societies, he came to the conclusion that the performance of these functions was so vital that it is inevitable that families exist everywhere. Parsons’ list of functions is shorter; he sees them more as ‘basic and irreducible’. He claims that the family must provide the primary socialisation of children to certify the maintenance of society’s culture and the stabilisation of adult personalities - where responsibility for children gives emotional security and the family performs as a haven from the complications of the outside world.
These include; stable satisfaction of the sex drive, reproduction of the next generation, socialisation of the young and meeting its members economic needs. Murdoch argues that the nuclear family because of its sheer practicality is a way of meeting the four needs of society and that this can be found universally. However, some sociologists would argue that these four needs can be met in other ways than the nuclear family, for example by other institutions or different family types. Marxists and Feminists have criticised Murcdoch’s view. Marxists and Feminists say that functionalism rejects conflict and exploitation.
The goal of the Family Diversity research stream is to document the varied experiences of families as well as the opportunities and challenges that groups such as Aboriginal families or same-sex families face. Families and Society The structure and practice of families described above take place against a broader backdrop. One of the critical tasks for the Institute’s research program will be to illuminate and explore these connections between society and family
Today marriage is thought to be of necessity for the individuals composing the marriage. It Takes A Family: Conservatism and The Common Good, by Rick Santorum is a very informative article, touching on the essential points of maintaining a healthy familial relationship throughout all components of the family. These points include his perspective on, the effect a divorce or marriage separation can have on the rest of the family, specifically the children; and the meaning of family concerning marriage commitments and what marriage entails. Santorum provides
2. In your own words, describe what a ‘system’ is, especially as it applies to a couple or family. After carefully reading James R. Bitter Chapter one, I can describe ‘system’ as it is especially applied to a couple or family as a social and or biological construct that is made up of a set of people who are related by blood. This family “system” functions because it is a unit and every member of the family plays a critical, if not unique, role in the system. As a result, if one of the members of this system changes, it can cause a ripple effect of change throughout the family system.
Murdoch (1949) argues that the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members. These functions are; economic help, reproduction, primary socialisation and satisfaction of the sex drive. He believes that those needs can only be achieved within a nuclear family. However, some sociologists would argue that these needs can be met in other ways than within the family. For example, other needs such as reproduction and sex can also be met by sperm donors, and ‘escorts’.
Murdock suggested that by living in a family which consisted of a mother, father and their biological child/ children, society would be enhanced ass teaching and learning the norms and morals of society would be best with a world which consisted of nuclear families. Since Murdock was a functionalist, he belied that the essential building block of society were the functionality of the economy, reproduction, sex and socialisation. George Murdock along with other functions had a consensus view that nuclear families accommodates the four key functions because it would stabilise satisfaction of the sex drive which would lower social disruption that could be caused by sexual tension. Another key factor was socialisation, specifically primary socialisation, which Murdock believed would be best in a nuclear family as primary socialisation is during the childhood of children, where they learn the norms and values of life, nuclear families were seen as the best setting for this. The functionalist view is extremely positive on its views for family’s and households due to their belief on the importance and influence nuclear families have on society.
Murdock suggests four main functions the nuclear family performs for the good of society as a whole and the individuals. These functions include: Reproduction were the family have children which means the human race keeps going, Primary socialisation were the family teaches children norms (acceptable behaviour) and values (right and wrong), Economic support which is the family giving financial support, it feeds and provides shelter for its members and lastly Sexual; maintaining a heterosexual relationship and allowing the expression of sexuality in a socially approved manner. Murdock sees these functions as an important base for society to be stable and run smoothly. However many criticisms are put forward against Murdock’s ideas of the nuclear family. Parsons argued that in today’s society, the existence of institutions such as the state means the family has lost some of its functions.
For example, George Peter Murdock (1949) argues that the family performs four essential functions to meet the need of society and its members, these are: Stable satisfaction of the sex drive, sex with the same partner will prevent social disruption in the family which will keep the family together. Reproduction of the next generation, without which the society will not continue. Socialisation of the young, teach children the norms and values of society at a young age so they will learn. Meeting its members' economic needs, making sure the family has food and shelter. However, some sociologists disagree with Murdock’s functions of the family and have criticised him.
Instead of having a precise definition of the word it can be used to describe the familiar feelings one shares or feels for the most significant people in their lives. On the other hand the typical description of ‘family’ would be commonly described as nuclear which consists of 2 generations; a married man and woman with usually two children and maybe grandparents. Murdock researched about 250 society’s and found out evidence that the nuclear family was always present in each home including extended which led him to believe that the nuclear family was essential in society as it was the only type of family that performed