The family as a social
institution has always been regarded as a core element types for the development of the individual
as well as for the society and for the state. Therefore the changes of family values are given much attention all over the world. As we have discussed about the development of an individual, society, and state which very much depends on the family. Hence this change requires the knowledge of this status quo condition and context of the change. The function of the family is not any more natural than its concept but are changing and shifting in relation to social and economic developments. The family is the foundational
institution in societies- an institution which is a site of identity, emotion, cultural expression, care, despair, reproductive labour, systemic, and systematic violence, repression, and domination in ways that other institutions are not. It is also foundational in that contestations over life and culture begin here. In India its position has been central and critical. The family performs
important task which contribute to society’s basic needs and helps to perpetuate social order. Family is also described as “a group of persons directly linked by kin connections, the adult members of assume responsibility for caring for children”. The world of the family looks very different than it looks fifty years ago, while the institution of family and marriage still exist and are important to our lives, though the character has changed dramatically. Several sociologists have given their opinion about the family and its constituents. According to Aileen ross definition of family includes physical social and psychological elements of family life. According to her family is group of people usually related as some particular type of kinderd who may live in one house hold and whose unity resides in patterning of rights and duties, sentiments, and authority? Families two main functions are:- i) Primary socialization- is the process by children learns the cultural norms of the society into which they are born, and family are the most important platform for the development of the human personality. ii) Personality stabilization- refers to the role that the family plays in assisting adult family members emotionally. In industrial society the role of the family in stabilizing adult personalities is said to be critical. Other than these family structures there are few other of families are sustaining. i) Reconstituted family- It refers to a family in which at least one of the adults has children from the previous marriage or relationship. Such families also referred to step families. ii) Extended family- when close relatives other than a married couple and children live either in same house hold or in close and continuous relationship with one another we call it as extended family. We have seen now a days the joint family structure being nuclearised. It is not that joint ness of the family in India is lost totally. It is just the “cutting off” point of joint ness is changing. It is not quite possible that stage will come when the joint family will be lost from the mental horizon of the people of India. As India is culturally established country, it has been seen that there is change in the culture of the living of the family. But it is still well established, instead of large joint family, now we have small joint family of two generations functioning effectively.