AQA A Level Sociology Families and Households Sociologists Exams With Complete Solutions 2024

Murdock - correct answer-He has studied over 200 societies - comparative method Found that the family is universal They are a traditional conventional nuclear family with a heterosexual couple and biological children He claims that the family performs four functional prerequisites / essential functions: Reproductive = essential for the survival of society Sexual = creates a powerful, emotional bonds between couples. Economic = provides resources which are vital for sustainability Educational = primary socialisation Evaluation of Murdock - correct answer-The definition of the family is ethnocentric - assuming that families are inferior Interpretivists = the family is socially constructed Shown to be value-laden Correct by saying that the family is the fundamental building blocks of society Parsons (irreducible function theory) - correct answer-He argue that in the past, the family was a multi-functional unit where they performed all of the functions However, with developing industralisation and more institutions, these agencies have taken over the functions But there has been only two irreducible functions: Primary socialisation of children The stablisation of adult personalities Evaluation of Parson's irreducible function theory - correct answer-Fails to explore functional alternatives Sees the family as a distant institution Sees primary socialisation as a one-way process Parsons (functional fit theory) - correct answer-The function or type of the family will depend on the structure Nuclear family = modern industrial society Extended family = traditional pre-industrial society There are two essential needs in modern society: Geographical mobile workforce = as industries moves, people move and so the nuclear family is small and impact, it is easier to form nuclear families Social mobile workforce = the status is now achieved and so the children can achieve a better status than their parents which causes conflict which can result on the formation of nuclear families Evaluation of Parsons functional fit theory - correct answer-Accused on idealising the family by being optimistic Laslett = 10% of households are extended suggesting that there was a nuclear family structure in traditional society. Parson's instrumental and expressive roles - correct answer- Evaluation of Parson's instrumental and expressive roles - correct answer- Benson - correct answer-The rate of family breakdown was lower in married couples with 6% compared with 30% Couples are more stable when they are married and so marriage is stable as it requires deliberate commitment The government needs to encourage couples to marry by means of policies which supports marriage. Evaluation of Benson - correct answer-Amato = family breakdown increases the risk of children such as: Greater risk of poverty Education failure