From a functionalist perspective, the incest taboo serves to avoid which problem?

• A. Role confusion
• B. Economic conflict
• C. Genetic disorders
• D. Generational conflict

Answer: (A)

In functionalism, social rules exist to keep the whole system stable, and the incest taboo does that by keeping kinship boundaries clear. It sets who can marry whom and who is in different family roles (parent, child, sibling) so those roles stay unambiguous. If relatives could marry, the lines between these roles could blur, undermining authority, socialization of children, and the orderly transfer of status and resources. That clarity of roles helps maintain a predictable, stable family unit and broader social order. Genetic concerns and generational tensions are not the primary functions emphasized here, while economic dynamics aren’t the central focus; the key idea is preventing role confusion within the family.