Exam Prep Chapter 2 Structural Functionalism Theory - Family Theories 4e | Test Bank Smith by Suzanne R. Smith. DOCX document preview.
Chapter 2
Structural Functionalism Theory
KEY TERMS
structure deviant behavior
function conformity
instrumental innovation
expressive ritualism
equilibrium retreatism
the benchmark family rebellion
TRUE-FALSE QUESTIONS
1. The intact nuclear family of husband, wife, and their children is the ideal structure needed to maintain society according to structure functionalism theory.
2. Talcott Parsons did not see deviant behavior as contributing to positive social change.
3. A key component of structural functionalist theory states that any human system will resist change.
4. Structural functionalists would argue that males need to perform expressive functions and women should perform instrumental functions within the family.
5. According to structural functionalist theory, the function of families is to procreate and socialize children.
6. In structural function theory, on-deviance is the same as conformity.
7. Structural functionalism is basically a theory of social survival.
8. Structural functionalism is one of the most widely used theories today.
9. According to structural function theory, any family form can help maintain equilibrium in society.
10. For structural function theory, instrumental roles are those that help provide for the family.
11. Meeting the emotional needs of the family means you are fulfilling the expressive role.
12. All systems have functions.
13. The function of families is to socialize children.
14. Women are more likely to fulfill instrumental roles than are men.
15. The Benchmark family can take multiple forms.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. According to Talcott Parsons, what is the key system in society?
a. Government
b. Family
c. Culture
d. Social institutions
2. Despite the theory’s inability to adapt to the changes associated with the social upheaval of the 1960s, structural functionalism remains beneficial because:
a. The concept of the family needing to stay in balance is important to more modern family theories.
b. Present day family research uses family structure.
c. Family structure continues to plan a role in political decision-making.
d. All of the above
3. Rejecting both social norms and the typical ways social norms are achieved is an example of what?
a. innovation
b. ritualism
c. retreatism
d. rebellion
4. Which of the following is an instrumental task?
a. socializing children
b. preparing dinner
c. fixing the fence
d. settling a conflict
5. According to Parsons, _________________ is based on the concept of what is biologically predetermined vs. what is earned.
a. diffuseness/specificity
b. affectivity/affective neutral
c. ascription/achievement
d. collectivity/self
6. The leading thinker of functionalism in America was
a. Emile Durkheim.
b. Talcott Parsons.
c. Wesley Burr.
d. Ruben Hill.
e. Alfred Radcliffe-Brown.
7. According to structural functionalism, which is the Benchmark Family?
a. the historic extended family
b. well-functioning blended families
c. traditional intact nuclear family
d. whatever family structure best responds to the societal pressures at hand
e. none of the above
8. The traditional family with a working husband, stay-at-home wife, and their children is called the _________ family in structure functionalism theory.
a. functional
b. benchmark
c. Hollywood
d. normal
9. When a man/husband becomes a drug addict to avoid both the rewards of society and the frustrations of trying to attain them, which deviant behavior is he enacting?
a. conformity
b. innovation
c. ritualism
d. retreatism
e. rebellion
10. According to Murdock (1949) which is NOT one of the four universal family functions?
a. love
b. reproduction
c. socialization
d. economic division of labor
11. In contrast to Murdock’s finding (in Smith and Hamon) that society has succeeded in finding an adequate substitute for the nuclear family
a. Edith Clarke noticed that fathers are missing from lower-class Jamacian families so the structure is a mother-child dyad.
b. Milford Spiro asserted that socialization and economic functions are not provided by the family in the Israeli Kibbutz.
c. Lee demonstrated that fathers do not live with or provide for their families or help socialize their children among the Nayar of India.
d. All of the above are true.
12. A chief reason for the decline in popularity of structural functionalism is that
a. it is only useful for cross-cultural research.
b. it ignores within family interaction.
c. it confuses “function” with “cause.”
d. it is too politically radical.
13. The ______ is the purpose of something or what it does.
a. structure
b. function
c. benchmark
d. equilibrium
14. Equilibrium can be defined as:
a. having a sense of balance
b. having all things be equal
c. a section of the frontal cortex of the brain
d. a social norm associated with the family
15. Behaviors that differ from the social norm are said to be:
a. deviant
b. expressive
c. instrumental
d. structural
16. Rejecting both the social norms and the typical ways they are achieved, but also trying to form a new social structure, is an example of what?
a. innovation
b. ritualism
c. retreatism
d. rebellion
17. Structure functionalism is based on the idea that society is similar to the human body in that it has various parts that need to work together for it to be healthy. This is called what?
a. organic analogy
b. natural analogy
c. anatomical analogy
d. functional analogy
18. Talcott Parsons believed which of the following things were true?
a. the key to societal survival is shared norms and values
b. the family is the key system in society
c. deviation from social norms leads to disorganization which is bad for society
d. all of the above
19. Sarah is starting to wear plaid shoes to school because all of her friends are wearing plaid shoes. Sarah is showing what kind of behavior?
a. conformity
b. rebellion
c. retreatism
d. innovation
20. Conforming to a social norm, but doing so by showing deviant behavior, is an example of what?
a. innovation
b. rebellion
c. retreatism
d. ritualism
MATCHING QUESTIONS
Match Parson’s five pattern variables with their appropriate descriptions.
1. Ascription/Achievement a. the nature of relationships and how broad or narrow their expectations are
2. Diffusiveness/Specificity
b. the interest in others versus the focus on (d.) 3. Particularism/Universalism one’s own interests
4. Affectivity/Affective Neutrality c. the amount of emotional expression that is appropriate in a given situation
5. Collectivity/Self
d. the range of people with whom we come into contact
e. what is biologically predetermined versus what is earned.
SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION/ESSAY QUESTIONS
- What lead Holman and Burr (1980) to declare structural functionalism a “peripheral” theory?
- Why is this theory not used as much today as it was when the theory was developed?
- What are the social norms today concerning expressive and instrumental roles?
- Merton (1957) developed a typology of deviant behavior. First, why did he do this? Second, what examples can you think of for each?
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES OR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Learning Through Music (see Handout 2.1 and 2.2)
Exploring Family Theories
Appendix 2
Structural Functionalism Theory
Handout 2.1
Learning Through Music
PURPOSE
This theory is based on the idea that society works best when everyone fulfills a certain function. This pertains to both families and social structures. Because many students are interested in music, one way to teach about theory is using songs. This exercise allows students to apply structural functionalism to various songs.
GOALS
Upon completion of this exercise:
1. Students will develop a greater understanding of the concepts in this theory.
2. Students will develop a greater understanding of the assumptions of this theory.
3. Students will work together to apply this theory to a particular song.
MATERIALS
For this exercise you can use as few or as many songs as you like. The author chose three songs and made copies of the lyrics of the songs so students could see the words. The number of songs was limited so we could listen to each song as a class before the exercise began. Thus, you would also need an audio file or the music video for each song. You can pass out a handout with the questions to be answered and the general content of the theory in case students do not have their books with them (handout 2.1). Examples of good songs to use include: Where Have All the Cowboys Gone by Paula Cole; Our House by Madness; Everything She Wants by Wham!; and 9 to 5 by Sheena Easton.
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1. Play the audio of each song or show the music video. Divide the class into pairs or small groups such that each group will work together to answer the questions. If there were three songs to choose from, multiple groups might have the same song.
2. Ask each group to answer the five questions listed on the handout. Give groups approximately 10-15 minutes to answer the questions.
3. Once each group is finished, come back together as a class and go through each song, one at a time, allowing students to share their answers to the questions.
Handout 2.2
Learning Through Music
- What are two concepts in structure functionalism that are depicted in this song?
- What are examples of the two assumptions shown in this song?
- What in the song does not fit with structure functionalism?
- How would you change the song to make it fit the theory?
- Is any deviant behavior displayed? If so, which of the types is shown?
Primary Terms and Concepts:
- Structure
- Function
- Instrumental
- Expressive
- Equilibrium
- The Benchmark Family
- Deviant Behavior:
- Conformity- non-deviance
- Innovation- conforms to the norm but does so in a deviant way
- Ritualism- continues the same behavior over and over even though it doesn’t fit the norm
- Retreatism- rejects both the normative goals and the means to obtain them
- Rebellion- rejects the normative goals and the means to obtain them, but does try to create a new social structure that works for them
Basic Assumptions:
- The function of families is to procreate and socialize children
- All systems have functions
- All systems want to maintain their basic structure