The concept of family has remained the same for many years. After all, this is the primary cell of society and the place where a full-fledged personality grows out of a baby. The main function of the family is to prepare the child for life in society. At the same time, he must independently learn to overcome all difficulties and be prepared for any life realities, and they, as you know, can be quite severe.
The concept of the family in modern society
The family is the primary unit of society, which has the right to develop and function according to its own laws. It is very much dependent on society, subject to the political and economic programs pursued by the state, and is also influenced by religion and accepted ethical standards. At the same time, the family is an independent small group and has not only independence, but in a sense, inviolability. The core of the family is marriage. A married couple independently determines the vector of development of family relations, because a lot depends on motives and goalspeople who decided to seal their relationship with an official union. However, there are many people who not only run a joint household, but also have children in common, while their relationship is not officially registered. Thus, the modern family is not just a legal formality, it is a community of people united by parental and family ties. The primary task of the family is to perform certain functions that ensure the life of society and introduce new adapted units into society. It is believed that the main functions of the family in society are reproductive, economic, educational and recreational. The rest are not fundamental, but that does not make them any less important. And now, let's dwell on each in more detail.
Reproductive function: reproduction of their own kind
Reproduction of their own kind is the main goal of any unit of society. If we consider the 4 main functions of the family, then reproductive will be the most important and significant. If people stop reproducing, then the population is threatened with aging, and subsequently with extinction. To support the required number of people, each family must raise and raise at least two children, and for population growth it is necessary to have at least three. Unfortunately, in the modern world, families are affected by economic and political problems, and this is not very motivating for the birth of offspring. The lack of funds, the inability to satisfy their natural needs - all this makes peoplegive up the idea of getting married and having children. Even uncontrolled births in third world countries do not save the situation, because poverty, hunger and other difficulties do not allow growing full-fledged members of society, and many children die at a young age due to the low level of medicine and life in general. However, in developed countries, the birth rate is not growing at a high pace, the mentality of people has changed a lot and couples are in no hurry to have children. Young people want to get an education, build a career and just enjoy a free life without obligations and family routine. Naturally, all this does not have the best effect on the demographic situation in the world.
Education is the main instrument of personality formation
Education is an indispensable brick in the "foundation" of the personality of any person. In short, the main function of the family is precisely to instill in the child a certain arsenal of qualities. After all, this process cannot be replaced by anything, reversed or caught up at an older age. The downside is that in the modern world, the educational function of the family is gradually fading away. Children are increasingly left to themselves or to the influence of external factors. It has to do with equality between men and women. The mother can no longer fully fulfill her intended purpose - the birth and upbringing of children, since she earns money and takes care of the household on an equal basis with a man. Children suffer greatly from this, because they do not receive proper parental attention and make up for the resulting deficit with other species.communication, and not always safe and useful for their psyche. However, let's not forget that it is in the family that the child learns ways of communication and interpersonal interaction, and therefore this function is still important and relevant.
Basics of life: the household function of the family
The main function of the social institution of the family is to prepare a full member of society for an independent life. This suggests that a person must have certain skills of self-organization and self-service. And where to learn this if not in the family? From a very early age, we gradually teach the child to be independent: first, he masters the ability to eat without outside help, later he learns to use the toilet, then he gradually joins the rhythm of family life. The involvement of children in everyday worries occurs due to the distribution of responsibilities among family members. So the kids begin to understand that life is a series of ever-repeating events and actions that a person is forced to perform every day. If the family fully implements this important function, then the child will learn to keep himself and his home clean, choose the right clothes and shoes, be able to cook food and want to work to improve his living conditions.
Economic function: first introduction to money
We continue to consider the main functions of the family and their characteristics. Some sociologists combine household and economic functions, but most scientists believe that these twoconcepts should be considered separately, especially in the modern world. Unfortunately, money has completely enslaved the world. Everything is so serious that even the stability and normal climate in the family are determined by the level of its income. Children begin to understand the value of money very early and quickly become attached to financial matters. The tasks of parents are to introduce the child to the methods and ways of making money, as well as to teach them how to manage a budget and control their personal financial flows. It is necessary to instill in children a careful attitude to money, but not to build it into a cult. After all, we live in an era of consumption and the greed of many people simply knows no bounds.
Family is a place you want to return to again and again
Another main function of the family in raising a full-fledged and developed personality is recreational or restorative. The nature of relationships with loved ones greatly affects the overall emotional background and even self-confidence and self-confidence. If the climate in the family is tense, then the person experiences discomfort and anxiety. He loses the desire to return home, as he fears another showdown and scandals from scratch. According to American scientists, a favorable family environment can significantly change a person's life for the better. With the support of relatives, you can achieve success in your career or study, as well as easily endure all the litigations of fate. That is why each family member is responsible for the psychological state and level of vitality of their relatives.
Develop communication and communication skills
One of the main social functions of the family is the development of communication skills. It is no secret that the first interlocutors of the baby are the parents, it is they who teach him to speak and understand other people. Communication is an important element of social interaction. If a person has not fully mastered this skill, then it will be quite difficult for her to adapt in society. It is believed that the larger the family, the faster the child learns to speak, and the easier it is for him to communicate with peers in the future. The circle of communication greatly affects the communication skills of children, many of them adopt the conversational style of their parents and actively use it in everyday life. It is important to understand that the family has a great responsibility, because the child will enter adulthood only with the knowledge and skills that his parents will provide him.
Fundamentals of the formation of the sexuality of the future personality
No less significant, and sometimes the main function of the family in the education of a future member of society is to form his sexual views. You will be surprised, but the characteristic features of this side of the personality are laid at the most unconscious age, when the child is still very far from understanding such things. This is discussed in detail in the works of the great Freud, and he devoted many books to the formation of sexuality in childhood. But parents should not get hung up on this, the main thing is not to injure the child's psyche by talking about what he is not yet mentally ready for. Information should be giventimely and very well dosed. In addition, try to protect your child from the Internet, because there is a lot of obscene content on its open spaces that can distort the ideas of a fragile person about acceptable norms of sexuality.
Family as a way to satisfy spiritual and emotional needs
Studies by psychologists and sociologists show that people deprived of warmth, affection and care in childhood are more likely than others to suffer from various somatic diseases, mental disorders and, in general, are in an unstable psychological state. The love of loved ones is a necessary element of a person's existence, a guarantee of his optimistic mood and harmonious psycho-emotional development. The need for communication with loved ones especially increases during a period of difficulties, when a person is forced to cope with the negative influence of society and the environment. At that time, the main function of the family is to provide timely support and assistance. After all, the victim perceives everything in gray colors, the whole world seems hostile to him, and only relatives and friends can become a real support and help overcome all difficulties together.
Step-by-step socialization: first family - then society
Do not forget that the main function of the family as a social institution is the introduction of full-fledged individuals into society. This means that every child must go through a difficult path of socialization at the very beginning of his life. It is in the family that children join culture, science, hobbies and hobbies, formindividual aesthetic taste, take the path of sports and he alth, or, on the contrary, degrade from a young age. The lifestyle of parents and the immediate environment greatly influences the vector of development of the child's personality, because even in childhood he is determined with his life priorities and future profession.
What causes family dysfunction
Unfortunately, not every cell of society can fully implement its main functions. Families are exposed to a huge number of external factors, and often they are simply not able to fulfill their primary task. This may depend on the political structure of the country, religious beliefs, as well as elementary illiteracy and inexperience of family members. Some educational moments can be missed or grossly violated, and this negatively affects the overall development of the future personality.
Types of family relationships that determine its functionality
The nature of family relations largely determines the specifics of the main functions of the family. Forms and types of interpersonal interaction between spouses will either negatively or favorably affect the development of the child. Consider the scale of family relationships:
- Domination. Complete disregard for the needs of other family members and the open use of methods of pressure and manipulation (from imposing one's interests to violence).
- Manipulation. Attempts to achieve the desired by all available means, but under the guise of "good" motives.
- Rivalry. Constantconfrontation of spouses and attempts to "pull the blanket over yourself".
- Partnership. The members of the seven come to an agreement and pursue a friendly policy until someone's interests are hurt.
- Commonwe alth. Family relationships are built on understanding, trust and love.
The more favorable the environment, the more likely it is that the main functions of the seven will be fully implemented. But do not forget that each cell of society has the right to its own policy of raising offspring.
