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Functionalism and the New Right represent two of the most influential — and most criticised — perspectives on the family. Both view the traditional nuclear family as the ideal family form, but they arrive at this conclusion by different routes. Understanding these perspectives, and the evidence for and against them, is essential for AQA A-Level Sociology (7192).
Functionalism is a consensus theory. It sees society as a system of interdependent parts (institutions) that work together to maintain social stability and meet society's needs. The family is one of these institutions, and functionalists argue it performs vital functions for both individuals and society.
As introduced in Lesson 1, George Peter Murdock (1949) identified four essential functions:
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