Family values, sometimes referred to as familial values, are traditional or cultural values (that is, values passed on from generation to generation within families) that pertain to the family's structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals. In the social sciences, sociologists may use the term "traditional family" in order to refer specifically to the child-rearing environment that sociologists formerly called the norm. This "traditional family" involves a middle-class family with a breadwinner father and a homemaker mother, raising their biological children. Any deviation from this family model is considered a "nontraditional family". Nontraditional families, nevertheless, make up the majority of American households, as of now.

Definition

According to Dictionary.com, "family values" is defined as "the moral and ethical principles traditionally upheld and transmitted within a family, as honesty, loyalty, industry, and faith."

According to Merriam-Webster, "family values" are "values especially of a traditional or conservative kind which are held to promote the sound functioning of the family and to strengthen the fabric of society".

Family values are a political and social concept.

Family values may also refer to:

"Family Values" (alternate title: "Happy Family") is an eighth-season episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the 163rd episode overall. This episode was originally set to air after "Playing Dead" which was the episode chosen to be the season premiere.

Plot

A man disturbed by the imagery of a girl wearing a low-cut costume in a school play walks out and drives to a house reciting religious scripture. He sips a mug while wearing rubber gloves. A dead woman lies on the floor next to his table. The man of the house returns and the assailant ambushes him with a hammer. Eames and Goren are called to the scene in the morning. They note that the case is peculiar because of the woman's apparent familiarity with her killer but nothing of value, even one-thousand dollars in cash was taken, nor any sexual assault took place during the home invasion.

It turns out the killer, Paul Devildis (David Harbour) and his wife Mary (Susan Misner) are the victims' relatives. He is extremely socially conservative, even having used a towel to cover the chest of his sister-in-law after killing her. Paul learns from his daughter Kathy (Britt Robertson) that she will next be performing in a Tennessee Williams play, which he disapproves of, because of Williams's homosexuality. Paul confronts her drama teacher, Vilma (Karen Ziemba) over this. He later walks out of an alley, dropping his hammer in a dumpster. She is found dead the next morning, being killed by a hammer.