What term refers to the concern for maintenance of harmony and internal emotional affairs within a family according to Parsons and Bales?

The term that refers to the concern for maintenance of harmony and internal emotional affairs within a family according to sociologists Talcott Parsons and Robert Bales is expressiveness. In their functionalist perspective, expressiveness is associated with the emotional and supportive roles typically fulfilled by women in a family setting. This role emphasizes nurturing, emotional support, and the fostering of family relationships. The concept highlights how important emotional bonds and communication are in sustaining family cohesion and stability.

In contrast, instrumentality refers to the role that focuses on goal-oriented tasks and the provision of resources, often represented by the male role as the breadwinner. Affectionate bonding and support structure, while relevant to family dynamics, do not encapsulate the specific framework Parsons and Bales developed although they do touch on aspects of family relationships and support within emotional contexts.

Thus, expressiveness accurately captures the essence of maintaining family harmony and internal emotional affairs as described by Parsons and Bales, emphasizing the importance of emotional connections within the family unit.