Concerning the structural and functional understanding of the culture of marriage and family relations

The author considers the culture of marriage and family relations in terms of a structural and functional approach and defines the concept of the structure of culture. This approach allows us to reveal that the structure of culture consists of the substantial elements that are identified in its knowledge, values and standards as well as functional elements that describe the process of cultural life (beliefs, values and practices). The main functions of the culture of marriage and family relations should include the cognitive function, i.e. the accumulation, transfer and development of knowledge in the field of family and marriage; the integrating function, the implementation of which makes it possible to coordinate family and marriage behavior of a person with other parties of his being; the regulatory function, which sets the boundaries of possible deviations in the behavior of people from social standards, creates certain socially encouraged family and marriage practices.