In sociological terms, modern social systems produce all sorts of pressures that pull marriages and families apart, creating tension and discord as they exert their influence.
According to Andersen, what do sociologists identify as the major sources of marital instability and divorce? Does she offer any final judgments on whether the family is “dying” or “thriving” or what?
In her view, how do those sources of strain work to produce instability or divorce?
How do functionalists explain the changes that American marriages and families have experienced over the past fifty years?