... two basic and essential functions where not met, then the family being a microcosm of society would create 'anomie' and a dysfunctional society. He believed that these irreducible functions are needed to ensure social order. 1996, eleven years after Parsons gave his updated version of Murdock's doctrine, Ronald Fletcher fine tuned the functionalist theory and adapted the ideas to a new and different world compared to that of Murdocks and Parsons. Fletcher also believed that the family has lost functions. Fletcher also said that non-essential functions which families used to perform are now done by the state, These functions are health care, education and etc. Families are now left with three essential functions. They are stable satisfaction of sexuality, production and rearing of children and home provision. Fletcher as well as parsons and Murdock also believes that the family need to perform these 'essential' functions to maintain social control otherwise society ...

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