ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the family is considered as a social institution. The aim will be to indicate the nature of family structures in Britain today. The chapter also describes what the chief functions of the family are. Traditionally, answers to this question have been given under three headings. Consideration has been given to the way that the family first fulfils the satisfaction of sex needs, secondly acts as an economic unit, and thirdly cares for the young and old. The chapter examines each of these functions in turn, though it is to the way that the family cares for the young that most attention will be given because of its greater relevance to education. It further discusses the interrelation between education and socialization under three headings — early socialization, personality development and the control of the adolescent. Finally, the chapter adds a brief consideration of socialization in communes to cover some of the contemporary changes in family structure.
