Functionalism and Family: George Peter Murdock believes that the family provides four vital functions for society: sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. The family is the primary point of socialization in that it provides children with values and norms. Family also stabilizes adult personalities.Click to see full answer. Also to know is, was Durkheim a functionalist?Émile Durkheim and Functionalism. As a functionalist, Émile Durkheim’s (1858–1917) perspective on society stressed the necessary interconnectivity of all of its elements. Durkheim also believed that social integration, or the strength of ties that people have to their social groups, was a key factor in social life.Subsequently, question is, what does functionalist say about family? Functionalists argue that all institutions in society have important roles to play in the smooth and functional running of society, and the family is no different. They argue that the family has important functions both for society and for individuals. Correspondingly, what does Murdock believe about the family? Murdock proposed that all families have four significant functions: sexual, economic, reproductive, and educational. These functions are essential and meet needs in all societies. He proposes that the best institution to perform these functions is the family.Why do Functionalists believe that crime is functional?Functionalists believe that crimes are functional for society. If these bonds are strong then individuals are less likely to commit crimes as they have responsibilities and loyalties to others which aren’t worth risking committing a crime for.