New Right Approach

The New Right theory was developed in sociology in the 1980s. It's based on the idea that the traditional nuclear family and its values (mum, dad and kids, parents are married, dad in paid employment) are best for society. The Simpsons is a nuclear family.

New Right theorists believe that social policies on the family, children, divorce and welfar have undermined the family.

Charles Murray is a New Right socologist who says the traditional family is under threat. Murray says that welfare benefits are too high and creaye a 'culture of dependency' where an individual finds it easy and acceptable to take benefits rather than work. He also created 'underclass' which is the idea of people who live or benefits and do not work.

New Right theorists are particularly concerned about giving lots of welfare benefits to single mothers. They also think that it's a very bad idea to have children brought up in families where adults aren't working and in lone parent families or fatherless families. Moral panic and fear of breakdown in social fabric due to lone parent families.

New Right sociologists believe that the increase in lone-parent and reconstitued families and the easier access to divorce have led to a breakdown in traditional values. They say that this causes social problems such as crime increase.

Some politicians have made use of the new right theory. It's had an influence on social policy - making it harder for people to get benefits.

New Right theory has been criticised for 'blaming the victim' for their problems.

Pink - Family Portrait shows the views of New Right theory strongly.

The Functionalist Approach

The Functionalist approach to the family is like 'an organic system' just like the human body, where every part plays a role to keeping the body working and therefore in general keeping society harmoniously. They see every institution in society as essential to the smooth running of society.

Functionalist Views
Sex, marriage and reproduction - they believe that it provides satisfaction of sexual needs and then benefits both partners. They also believe that it produces the next genenerations and the new members of society.

Socialisation and social control - they believe this passes on the shared culture without which society wouldn't exist. They also believe that this prepares children for adult roles.

Stabilisation - they believe a loving relationship in marriage provides warmth, security, emotional support and fulfilment for adults.

Economic and welfare - they believe that both genders have different capabilities so the division of labour is an efficent way of organising the family.

Evaluation
There are negatives with the Functionalist family because they only look at the positive aspects and are oblivious to the other factors. However, the positives are that they understand how important the family is to society.

Functionalists



This is Talcott Parsons and he introduced the 'warm bath' theory.