Interactionist Functions of the Family

Interactionist Functions of the Family
Functions
The Interactionist approach to the family involves examining how people make sense of and understand their lives within families.

Berger and Kellner (1964)  examined marriage and the relationships, roles and interactions between husbands and wives. i.e. what does it mean to be a husband and what does it mean to be a wife.

Mansfield and Collard (1988) examined the process of becoming a married couple. They examined  the following issues:

Living arrangements – type of accommodation
Decision making in the home
Balance between paid employment and domestic life.
Wives and husbands responses to conflict.

Charles and Kerr (1988) Women Food and Families – this study focused on food and how it impacted on family life. The ‘proper meal’ – hot meat and vegetables at least once a day was associated with the proper family and familial harmony. Family meals were also associated with socialization of the young, to accept cultural habits and manners.

Finally, Finch and Mason (1993) – examined the manner in which family members feel obliged to provide help and assistance.

(Sociology an Interactive approach) p. 91-93.