Universality of the Family Murdock 1949 Andy Walker

Universality of the Family Murdock (1949) Andy Walker Learning Online 1

Universality of the Family o o o Is the nuclear family universal? Murdock studied 250 societies Murdock Identified four functions of the family. Andy Walker Learning Online 2

Functions of the Family o o Sexual: the family provides environment for regulating sexual desires. Reproduction: essential for survival of human society Socialisation: learning the norms and values of society. Economic: shelter, division of labour. Andy Walker Learning Online 3

Murdock’s main argument…. o The nuclear family is the most efficient arrangement for performing all of these vital functions Andy Walker Learning Online 4

Quotes from Murdoch Use these in your essays and try to learn them for exams ‘The family is a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults’. Andy Walker Learning Online 5

Quotes from Murdoch… ‘The nuclear family is a universal human social grouping. Either as the sole prevailing form of the family or as the basic unit from which more complex forms compounded, it exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in every society’. Andy Walker Learning Online 6

Criticisms of Murdock’s view o o We can find exceptions that suggest the nuclear family is not universal (Nayar, Matrifocal, Kibbutz and Gay) The functions of the nuclear family can be equally performed in different family structures. Andy Walker Learning Online 7

Counter arguments to support Murdock o o o The exceptions are few in number and are not statistically significant. Alternatives family forms can be seen as the nuclear family gone wrong. The nuclear family is the ideal. Andy Walker Learning Online 8

Argument for an essay/exam o Whether the nuclear family is universal depends on how it is defined ‘Relationships are universal, so is some form of co -residence, of intimacy, sexuality and emotional bonds. But the forms they can take are infinitely variable and can be changed and challenged as well as embraced’. Andy Walker Learning Online 9