Family: a Sociological Perspective Essay Example

The family is the central institution in human societies, or as B. K. Malinowski, a renowned twentieth-century anthropologist argued; it is the "basic building block of society". However it has faced and still faces the same challenges as any other institution in the dynamic world in which we live. This core institution's structure and function are both vulnerable and susceptible to change often incited by both internal and external factors. While some changes brought on by shifts in economics or demographics are observable through trends, other changes incited by war or catastrophes can be abrupt. Whether changes occur quickly or slowly they affect the dynamics of this complex but essential concept we call family, which is conceptualized and manifests itself in diverse socio-cultural contexts throughout the world. To explore the family and factors that may affect its dynamics a single discipline approach may be insufficient. Instead a more holistic approach using views from sociology, economics, and psychology and how these disciplines study the family will likely provide more insight. This study attempts to incorporate this approach to look at contemporary changes in the family. However, before this exploration it is vital to first discuss, if only at a macro or superficial level, the definition or concept of family. The definition provided for this research was, "family is a group of people who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption". After a literature review I think that the definition for family is in constant flux as society changes, so the provided definition may be a little constraining. What was considered family two or three decades ago, does not necessarily reflect some contemporary perspectives. Family, like other institutions, has, within its boundaries, its own sets of values, statuses, roles, and remains a principal environment in which initial socialization takes place. However, these values, statuses, and roles find themselves existing