Nuclear Family (Definition)

Nuclear Family, also called elementary family, in sociology and anthropology, a group of people
who are united by ties of partnership and parenthood and consisting of a pair of adults and their
socially recognized children. Typically, but not always, the nuclear family are married.

The nuclear family or the core family is usually composed of a father, mother, and the children.
The children need not be the biological offspring of the spouses as in the case of adopted
children. Also, a man and woman need not be legally married as in the case of cohabiting
couples.

Advantages of nuclear family:

1. Better financial stability, the development of strong support systems for children, and
providing consistency in raising children from established daily routines.
2. Children learn to coexist in a joint family.
3. Strong emotional bonds, better raising of children, etc.
4. Possibility of reduced conflicts.
5. Can make independent desicions.
6. Consistency means behavior successes.
7. Financial stability equals more opportunity.
8. Can freely focus only on the childs safety and problems.
9. Strength and stability.
10. A limited number of children.

Disadvantages of nuclear family:

1. Insecurity feel for widows, and at old age. In a nuclear family widowed or old people will
feel insecure since they won’t have emotional or financial support.
2. Children insecurity.
3. Children feel alone.
4. They feel lonely and emotional insecure.
5. They develop more anxiety. If the bread winner dies or becomes incapable to an, there
is no one to support the family. Even in time of emergency like sickness, accident during
pregnancy family members are very much neglected and there is no one to take care of
them.
6. Close-knit or isolated.
7. Burnout.
8. Less conflict resolution skills.
9. The higher cost of childcare if both parents are working.
10. Security and safety.