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Anthropologists and social scientists have developed several theories about how family structures and functions evolved. In prehistoric hunting and gathering societies, two or three nuclear families, usually linked through bonds of kinship, banded together for part of the year but dispersed into separate nuclear units in those seasons when food was scarce. The family was an economic unit; men hunted, while women gathered and prepared food and tended children. Infanticide and expulsion of the infirm who could not work were common. Some anthropologists contend that prehistoric people were monogamous, because monogamy prevails in nonindustrial, tribal forms of contemporary society. Historical studies have shown that during last decades family structure has been changed by urbanization and industrialization.
The nuclear family is still the most prevalent preindustrial unit and is still the basic unit of social organization, however, the very matter of the family and its own functions change in a way. Additionally, the contemporary family differs from earlier traditional forms, in its functions, composition, and life cycle and in the roles of husbands and wives. Among the most important functions of the family are socialization, regulation of sexual activity, social placement, and provision of social and emotional security. In terms of relationship between the traditional family and medicine, including the holistic one, many sociologist distinguish the function of affection and emotional support by and to family members, particularly infants and young children, to be vitally important.
Additionally, such a provision and support constitutes the core of the holistic medicine. Holistic family medicine encompasses the treatment of the patient as a whole - mind, body and spirit. It also embraces the fact that the patient is often an important member of a family unit. It is assumed that individual members possess the knowledge needed to take care and heal the rest of the family. Thus, family ties are considered to be the most important factor for holistic medicine success. Specialized institutions now perform many of the other functions that were once performed by the agrarian family: economic production, education, religion, and recreation.
Jobs are usually separate from the family group; family members often work in different occupations and in locations away from the home. Education is provided by the state or by private groups. Religious training and recreational activities are available outside the home, although both still have a place in family life. The family is still responsible for the socialization of children, however, the character and amount of responsibility is constantly decreasing.
The final success of holistic medicine is determined by what degree the contemporary family will correspond the definition of a backbone of society. The basic trends in American society show that the traditional family has lost its main positions regarding to be a central element of society. The role of family in society was substituted by the role of individual. From the critical point of view, holistic medicine has a concrete social foundation. However, it is emphasize only healthy family relationships. Traditional family has been serving as a major guaranty of its overall success.
Further, the concept of traditional family is not going to be as actual as in fifties. Therefore, success of holistic medicine begins to be very limited to the role of family in society. Thus, the promotion of holistic medicine seem to be less feasible than that of traditional one.
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Research essay sample on Traditional Family Family Members
