Functions of the Family

1. Functions of the Family

2. Family Functions • Families perform special functions • Experts have studied families and have identified these functions that other social groups can’t perform • The following list is derived from the findings of Galvin and Brommel

3. Functions of the Family • Provide Emotional Support • Provide Economic Support • Provide Child Care and Guidance • Provide Housekeeping • Maintain Kinship • Provide Recreation

4. Provide Emotional Support • It is the family’s job to: • Accept children unconditionally • Listen to each other’s problems • Offer affection and companionship • Show understanding, concern, and continual love • Emotional support nurtures self-esteem and encourages independence

5. Provide Economic Support • It is the family’s job to: (once the husband’s responsibility, now can be egalitarian) • Satisfy the family’s financial needs • Provide basic needs such as shelter, food, clothes, items for hygiene, etc. • Set examples of wise spending, investing, saving, and work ethic

6. Provide Child Care & Guidance • It is the family’s job to: (also called parenting function) • Teach children behaviors, skills, and information to successfully function outside the family • Keep children physically and psychologically safe • Teach children many roles • Once was primarily mom’s responsibility, now is usually a shared function • Many experts believe this is the most important function

7. Provide Housekeeping • It is the family’s job to: • Teach family members to share household responsibilities • Create a pleasant, healthful, protective environment • Traditionally the female’s role, now can be a shared role

8. Maintain Kinship • It is the family’s job to: • Establish and keep family network with relatives • Express cultural and religious traditions • Today’s average family network is usually smaller than those in the past

9. Provide Recreation • It is the family’s job to: • Provide time to play, laugh, and relax • Do things together as a family • Important because recreation allows time to become closer as a family and get to know each other better

10. Family Functions • In each family …….it is the parents’ who determine which functions get higher priority than others; they base this on • Values & goals * Energy • Knowledge * Available resources • Ability

11. Family Functions • Affected also by • Stage of the family life cycle • Type of the parental roles (traditional/egalitarian)