1.2.3 Functionalist perspective

Question 1

Who created the functionalist theory?

Answer 1

• The founding father of functionalism is the French sociologist Emile Durkheim (1893)

Question 2

What is the functionalist theory based on?

Answer 2

• The idea that society is based on social order & stability.
• Society is composed on different parts & each preforms as different function to enable this.
• Durkheims goal was to explain how social order is created & maintained.

Question 3

What is the organic analogy?

Answer 3

• It is used to explain social order by making a comparison between society & the human body.
• Just as the human body is composed of organs which each have a separate function to perform to maintain health applies to society.

Question 4

What are the 3 key concepts of functionalism?

Answer 4

• Solidarity.
• Value consensus.
• Equilibrium.
• According to Durkheim if these conditions are in place social order is possible
• They are essential.

Question 5

What is social solidarity?

Answer 5

• A community, group or society that has achieved stability & unity where members value a sense of belonging.

Question 6

What is value consensus?

Answer 6

• A community, group or society that share important norms, values & beliefs.

Question 7

What is equilibrium?

Answer 7

• A balance & stable community, group or society.

Question 8

What does Durkheim (1893) believe about education?

Answer 8

• Education helps establish a strong degree of social solidarity & value consensus by transmitting norms, beliefs & values to all pupil.
• Education welds pupil into a united whole by fixing into the children essential similarities that collective life demands helping to integrate people closely into a society.
• This occurs through the standardised curriculum so all pupil are exposed to the same cultural teachings & information.

Question 9

What does Parsons (1961) believe about education?

Answer 9

• School acts as a vital secondary source of socialisation acting as a bridge of between the family & society.
• After primary socialisation, school becomes the focal socialising agency preparing young people for adult roles encouraging them to be a highly motivated & achievement orientated workforce.
• School prepares individuals as success in schools is achieved by meritocratic principles.
• School acts a miniature society.

Question 10

What do David & Moore (1967) believe about education?

Answer 10

• Education is preparation for work but they link it to the stratification system.
• It is a proving ground for ability, it is a selective agency allocating people to roles suit for their ability.
• They link education & social inequality by saying social inequality is necessary to ensure the most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people.
• Education contributes to this as sets/streams divide those with different abilities.

Question 11

What do Blau & Duncan (1978) believe about education?

Answer 11

• The modern economy depends for its prosperity using human capital (workers skills).
• A meritocratic education system does this best as it enables each person to be allocated to a job best suited for them.

Question 12

What are the functions of education to functionalists?

Answer 12

• To prove ability.
• Enable the most talented people to work in higher tier jobs.
• Make effective use of people talents.

Question 13

What are criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 13

• Schools don’t always promote social solidarity, unity & integration e.g. bullying & pupil disliking school.
• There is a large amount evidence suggesting schools do not provide equal opportunities e.g. achievement is highly determined by social class.
• The education system does not teach specialised skills adequately.