Sociologists investigation family into both macro- and you can small-level to choose how family members form. Sociologists may use many different theoretical viewpoints to spell it out occurrences one to occur within this and you will beyond your household members. Within this Introduction so you’re able to Sociology, we are targeting three viewpoints: architectural functionalism, important sociology, and you will emblematic interactionism.

Functionalism

When considering the brand new part out of members of the family into the people, functionalists support the notion one to family was an important public organization and they play a switch character into the stabilization neighborhood. Nonetheless they observe that family unit members take on position jobs within the an effective ily – and its players – perform particular characteristics you to definitely support the newest prosperity and growth of neighborhood.

Anthropologist George Murdock defined the family narrowly while the “a personal group described as prominent quarters, economic cooperation, and you can reproduction,” which “comes with people of one another genders, no less than a couple of just who care for a beneficial socially acknowledged intimate relationship, and one or more youngsters” (Murdock, 1949). Murdock conducted a study of 250 communities and you may figured there is four universal recurring attributes of one’s relatives: sexual, reproductive, instructional, and you will financial (Lee, 1985). Inside per people, even though the construction of the loved ones may differ, your family work these five services. Read more