Theory paper for sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theory paper for sociology - Essay Example Thus, family acts as an integrating mechanism. Secondly, family helps create social order. In this way family acts as a unit of stability for the society to function as a whole. Talcott Parsons takes this concept a step further by explaining two essential functions of family. These functions tell us the way the family behaves and tells us the behavior of the individuals in the family. The first essential function of the family is the primary socialization of the young. Parsons (1951) argues that families are like factories producing human personalities and identities. It is the family alone that provides the security and emotional covering to the individual at an early age. An example of such behavior is the christening of the child or when they celebrate birthdays. The child learns that society is like a human organism where pains and happiness is shared. The family is a miniature society and behaves in a similar way. The other function of family mentioned by Parsons is the stabiliz ation of adult personalities. According to him through the sexual division of labor family helps maintain adult personalities and stabilizes them. The man has the instrumental role of a bread winner and the female has an expressive role within the family.