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Everyone has his own definition of what is a family. The meaning of a family is different to every one of us. Therefore by sociologists giving definitions to what is a family, we do not have a clear idea of what is family and not all definitions adept to all families. A universal family is a nuclear family. By studying 250 societies, Murdock found a variety of characteristics that these societies have in a family. Some of the characteristics are that the family live in a common residence and have economic co-operation. The family consists of adults of both sexes who are married and maintain a sexual relationship; the adults have biological children or children from adoption, and socializes them. By socializing their children they are transmitting the culture of their generation to their children. As Murdock is a functionalist he regards the family as being a function to society as a whole. According to Murdock the family is a multi-functional institution, which is indispensable for the individual and society. The family helps bring about harmony and integration in society. Other institutions have nowadays taken on these functions. Talcott Parsons agrees with Murdock that the family has become specialized in its fu