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Talcott Parsons and The Functionalist Perspective
UOL 2000 Examination Question
Or Consensus Theory
Durkheim and the Organic or Biological Analogy
The Organic analogy sees society as an organic whole, with each of the constituent parts working to maintain the whole and each other.
The Family is viewed as a key social institution, a fundamental element of social structure.
"While some functionalists argued that the family performed similar functions in all societies and throughout history, Parsons was more interested in explain how the nuclear family is particular to industrial society." (Parsons and Bale, 1956 cited Steve Taylor et al 1999 pp.160)
Talcott Parsons
"The functions of the family in a highly differentiated society are not to be interpreted as functions directly on behalf of the society, but on behalf of personality... It is because the human personality is not "born" but must be "
made" through the socialization process that in the first instance families are necessary. They are factories which produce human personalities. " (Talcott Parsons, 1955).
Functions of The Family
Lost the function of productive work as a result of industrialization.
Its now specialized in the socialization of children.
And the ?stabilization of adult personalities?. (Parsons)
Isolation from the extended family. And centred around individual achievement, the nuclear family is pragmatic and goal orientated.
Kin based relations are governed by collective and emotional , ?affective? bonds, these run contrary to the needs of industrial society.
So kinship ties are loosened and and there is a specialization of functions within the nuclear family.
Functions of the Family cont...
Husband enters the public sphere and performs an instrumental role. And the occupational role of the husband takes authority and doesn?t clash with other family members.
Wife enters the private sphere and performs an ?affective? role. (Affective means emotional)
The functions of the family are more limited.
Other subsystems within society , have taken over the functions of economic, educational, and therapeutic roles. (F.J.Lechner, 2000)
The extended or kin based family would have fulfilled these functions.
Structural Differentiation
Functions becoming roles.
As a result of the move towards industrial society the structures of society differentiate, home and work becomes separate.
Economic activity moves into the public sphere.
Traditional homes, handed from generation to generation do not allow for mobility.
Modern homes are rented or bought, which allows the family to move around a region, country.
This mobility is needed to facilitate the husbands role of , ?main breadwinner? and it doesn?t clash with other family members roles.
Family Roles
Status asymmetry refers to the notion that the two spouses must have entirely separate roles and interests so that there is no rivalry or conflict.
Functionalism Family cont..
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