Sociology: Definition and Functions of a Nuclear Family

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason why the definition of family must be broad and flexible?

because family styles can be vastly different from culture to culture

What influences the attitude towards illegitimate pregnancies in a society?

Culture

What is the role of laws and mores in a society according to the text?

They are the means by which the desired behaviour is achieved and maintained

What is believed to influence an individual's behavior throughout life?

<p>The kind of maternal care the child receives</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a family as an economic unit?

<p>To provide for the needs of its members</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of families across different cultures?

<p>They are linked intimately</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of early experiences in shaping an individual's behavior?

<p>They can account for many of the deviant unusual behaviors in adults</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a family, according to the text?

<p>To provide a social unit for its members</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the essential characteristics of a nuclear family according to George Peter Murdock?

<p>Common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction, including adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a society-approved sexual relationship, and one or two children owed or adopted by cohabiting adults.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of the family according to the Functionalists?

<p>Sexual, Economic, Reproductive, Educational or Socialization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Murdock consider the family an indispensable and inevitable feature of any society?

<p>Because it performs essential functions for everyday life and the transmission of culture from generation to generation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by Murdock's description of the family as a 'many-sided utility'?

<p>The family performs multiple essential functions that are necessary for society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of Murdock's theory regarding the family?

<p>He does not recognize any other form of family except the nuclear, and does not accept alternatives to the family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Murdock argue that only the nuclear family can perform all the functions of the family?

<p>Because he believes it is the only form of family that can adequately fulfill the essential functions of the family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the limitation of Murdock's theory in terms of its portrayal of the family?

<p>It emphasizes harmony and integration in the family, losing sight of the reality of conflicts and problems that occur in society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family contribute to social order, according to Murdock's theory?

<p>The family helps maintain stability and social order, along with other institutions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Talcott Parsons, what are the two main functions of the family?

<p>The primary socialization of children in the society and stabilization of adult personality</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of primary socialization in Parsons' view?

<p>It structures the child's personality according to the particular culture of that society, giving them an identity and making them fit to live with.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family contribute to the stabilization of adult personality, according to Parsons?

<p>Through the differentiation of parental roles, providing economic security and emotional support, and enabling anticipatory socialization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the father in the family, according to Parsons' functionalist view?

<p>The breadwinner, providing economic security.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the mother in the family, according to Parsons' functionalist view?

<p>Producing warmth and emotional support.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the family in a Capitalist society, according to Marx et al?

<p>Producing cheap labor to be exploited by the Capitalist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family maintain cheap labor, according to Marx et al?

<p>At no cost to the employers, by inculcating values such as obedience to authority, punctuality, and efficiency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the values inculcated by the family in a Capitalist society, according to Marx et al?

<p>They help to maintain the oppression of generations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the components that make a family distinct from other groups?

<p>Structure, functions, assigned roles, distinct modes of interaction, availability of resources, progress through a life cycle, and individual members with special histories</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Murdock, what is the most usual and functional form of family arrangement?

<p>Nuclear or Simple family</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary criterion for both nuclear and extended families?

<p>Financial and other support</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between horizontal and vertical extended families?

<p>Horizontal extended families result from siblings introducing their spouses, while vertical extended families involve one, two, or three generations</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the matrifocal family structure?

<p>The woman is at the center of the family or single-headed household</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has increased life expectancy impacted family structures?

<p>It has increased the possibility of vertical extended families</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between nuclear and extended families?

<p>Extended families include kinship ties, such as grandparents, aunts, and cousins, in addition to the simple family unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of modified family structures?

<p>Traditional roles are being modified, such as in single-parent households</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family structure impede the revolution against the Capitalist system, according to the text?

<p>The family structure slows down the revolution by allowing members to vent their anger on each other rather than on the system, thereby consoling their anger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the prevalence of Matrifocal families in the Caribbean, according to Melville Herskovits?

<p>The cultural pattern of matrifocal families can be traced to the African origins of the black slaves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Plantation System contribute to the development of Matrifocal families in the Caribbean?

<p>The Plantation System prevented slaves from forming stable families, and mothers and children were often kept together, leading to stronger bonding between mothers and children.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does poverty play in the perpetuation of Matrifocal families, according to the Culture of Poverty theory?

<p>Poverty prevents males from making financial contributions, leaving mothers to fend for themselves, and thus Matrifocality becomes the accepted cultural pattern.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the mother-child bond in the development of Matrifocal families in the Caribbean?

<p>The mother-child bond is the primary unit of bonding and closeness in Matrifocal families, leading to stronger relationships between mothers and children.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Matrifocal family structure reflect the subculture of poverty, according to Oscar Lewis?

<p>Matrifocality becomes a feature of the subculture of poverty as mothers try to keep the family together in the face of poverty and lack of male financial contribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between polygyny and Matrifocal families in African cultural heritage, according to Melville Herskovits?

<p>In African cultural heritage, polygyny led to the mother being the basic unit of bonding and closeness, with the husband or father being marginal to the group.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family structure in Matrifocal families reflect the historical context of slavery and the Plantation System?

<p>The family structure in Matrifocal families reflects the historical context of slavery and the Plantation System, which prevented stable families and led to stronger mother-child bonds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental reason why the definition of family must be broad and flexible, according to the text?

<p>Because family styles can be vastly different from culture to culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary way in which culture influences society's behavior and institutions?

<p>Through laws and mores.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of early experiences in shaping an individual's behavior, according to the text?

<p>Early experiences can account for many of the deviant or unusual behaviors in adults.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the common characteristic of families across different cultures, according to the text?

<p>Some kind of family organization is found in every culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the essential characteristic of a family that distinguishes it from other social groups?

<p>A social unit of some number of people who are linked intimately and usually live together.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the family in terms of its economic function, according to the text?

<p>Functioning as an economic unit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between culture and the attitude towards illegitimate pregnancies, according to the text?

<p>Culture influences the attitude towards illegitimate pregnancies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental unit of family that is understood to be a simple group of human beings united by certain affiliations, according to the text?

<p>A social unit of some number of people who are linked intimately.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinct characteristics set the family apart from other social groups?

<p>structure, functions, assigned roles, distinct modes of interaction, availability of resources, progress through a life cycle, and being made up of individual members with special histories</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of family structures according to Murdock?

<p>Nuclear or Simple and Extended or Blended</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary criterion for both nuclear and extended families?

<p>Financial and other support</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of family structure is characterized by a single parent, usually a woman, being at the center of the family?

<p>Single Parent Matrifocal</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has contributed to the increase in the possibility of extended families having multiple generations?

<p>Greater life expectancy</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of extended families?

<p>Horizontal and Vertical (consanguine)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of modified family structures?

<p>Modifying traditional roles</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of extended families that differentiates them from nuclear families?

<p>Inclusion of grandparents, aunts, and cousins</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of primary socialization in Parsons' view, and how does it relate to the culture of a particular society?

<p>Primary socialization is significant in Parsons' view as it structures a child's personality according to the particular culture of that society, giving them an identity and making them fit to live with.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family contribute to the stabilization of adult personality, according to Parsons, and what roles do mothers and fathers play in this process?

<p>The family provides stabilization for adult personalities by differentiating the roles of mothers and fathers, with mothers providing emotional support and fathers providing economic security, through anticipatory socialization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the family in a Capitalist society, according to Marx et al, and how does it relate to the exploitation of labor?

<p>The main function of the family in a Capitalist society, according to Marx et al, is to produce cheap labor that can be exploited by the Capitalist, and to maintain this labor at no cost to the employer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family inculcate values in children that help to maintain the oppression of generations, according to Marx et al?

<p>The family inculcates values in children such as obedience to authority, punctuality, and efficiency, which help to maintain the oppression of generations in a Capitalist society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the relationship between socialization and culture in Parsons' view, and how does it relate to the development of an individual's identity?

<p>The relationship between socialization and culture is significant in Parsons' view as socialization enables individuals to learn the culture of their society, which shapes their identity and enables them to fit in.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family contribute to the maintenance of social order, according to Parsons, and what are the implications of this for individuals and society?

<p>The family contributes to the maintenance of social order by socializing children and stabilizing adult personalities, which enables individuals to participate in society and maintain social order.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the implications of the family's role in producing cheap labor in a Capitalist society, according to Marx et al, and how does this relate to the exploitation of labor?

<p>The implications of the family's role in producing cheap labor in a Capitalist society, according to Marx et al, are that it perpetuates the exploitation of labor and maintains the oppression of generations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family's role in socializing children and stabilizing adult personalities relate to the maintenance of social order, according to Parsons?

<p>The family's role in socializing children and stabilizing adult personalities is crucial for maintaining social order, as it enables individuals to participate in society and maintain social order.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the family have on the revolutionary efforts against the Capitalist system, and how does it achieve this?

<p>The family slows down the revolution by providing a support system for the spouses, which consoles them when they are angry at the Capitalist system, causing them to vent their anger on each other rather than on the system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the African cultural heritage in the development of Matrifocal families in the Caribbean, according to Melville Herskovits?

<p>The African cultural heritage, particularly the practice of polygyny, led to the development of Matrifocal families in the Caribbean, where the mother was the basic unit of bonding and closeness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Plantation System contribute to the development of Matrifocal families, according to M.G. Smith?

<p>The Plantation System contributed to the development of Matrifocal families by not encouraging stable families, leading to the breakup of families, and the subsequent bonding of children with their mothers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between poverty and the perpetuation of Matrifocal families, according to the Culture of Poverty theory?

<p>Poverty prevents males from making financial contributions, leading to mothers being left to fend for themselves, and thus, Matrifocal families become the accepted cultural pattern.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Matrifocal family structure reflect the subculture of poverty, according to Oscar Lewis?

<p>The Matrifocal family structure is a feature of the subculture of poverty, as mothers try to keep the family together despite the lack of financial resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the family in maintaining social order, and how does it achieve this?

<p>The family provides a support system and slows down the revolution, thereby maintaining social order by consoling individuals and directing their anger away from the system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the mother-child bond in the development of Matrifocal families in the Caribbean, and how does it relate to the historical context of slavery and the Plantation System?

<p>The mother-child bond is a critical aspect of Matrifocal families in the Caribbean, which developed as a result of the historical context of slavery and the Plantation System, where children were often separated from their fathers and bonded with their mothers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between Murdock's definition of a nuclear family and other forms of family structures, and what implication does this have for his theory?

<p>Murdock's definition of a nuclear family is based on legal marriage, which is not a requirement for other forms of family structures. This implies that his theory is limited to Western societies and does not account for alternative forms of family structures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the family structure in Matrifocal families reflect the cultural values of the African diaspora, and what does this reveal about the cultural heritage of the Caribbean?

<p>The family structure in Matrifocal families reflects the cultural values of the African diaspora, particularly the emphasis on the mother as the basic unit of bonding and closeness, which reveals the significance of African cultural heritage in shaping family structures in the Caribbean.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Murdock's emphasis on the harmony and integration of the family relate to his functionalist perspective, and what criticism can be levelled against this approach?

<p>Murdock's emphasis on harmony and integration reflects his functionalist view that the family is a unit that works together to maintain social order. However, this approach can be criticized for ignoring the reality of conflict and inequality within families.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of common residence in Murdock's definition of a nuclear family, and how does this relate to his functionalist theory?

<p>Common residence is a key aspect of Murdock's definition of a nuclear family, as it allows for economic cooperation and the performance of family functions. This reflects his functionalist view that the family is a unit that works together to maintain social order.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Murdock's theory of the nuclear family relate to the concept of socialization, and what implications does this have for the transmission of culture?

<p>Murdock's theory emphasizes the role of the nuclear family in socializing children and transmitting culture from one generation to the next. This implies that the family is essential for the continuation of social norms and values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between Murdock's concept of the 'many-sided utility' of the family and his functionalist perspective, and what does this imply about the role of the family in society?

<p>Murdock's concept of the 'many-sided utility' of the family reflects his functionalist view that the family performs multiple functions essential for social order. This implies that the family is a critical institution that plays a central role in maintaining society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Murdock's definition of the nuclear family relate to the concept of reproduction, and what implications does this have for the continuation of society?

<p>Murdock's definition of the nuclear family emphasizes the importance of reproduction for the continuation of society. This implies that the family is essential for the reproduction of society and the transmission of cultural values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Murdock's claim that the nuclear family is an indispensable and inevitable feature of any society, and what implications does this have for the study of family structures?

<p>Murdock's claim implies that the nuclear family is a universal institution that is essential for the functioning of society. This has implications for the study of family structures, as it suggests that the nuclear family is a fundamental unit of analysis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Murdock's theory of the nuclear family relate to the concept of education, and what implications does this have for the role of the family in shaping individual behavior?

<p>Murdock's theory emphasizes the role of the family in educating children and shaping individual behavior. This implies that the family is a critical institution for socialization and the transmission of cultural values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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