functionalism Flashcards
key themes of functionalism
structural approach
organic analogy
changing cultures
why does functionalism use structural approach
Durkheim - all societies characterised by social order - value consensus
Parsons - two mechanisms that enable individuals to conform - socialisation and social control
what does socialisation do according to parsons
ensures the needs of the system are met
teaches system’s norms and values
what does social control do according to parsons
ensure social order and a commitment to the value consensus
evaluation of structural approach
interactionists - society not governed by structure - we actively attach meanings to situations which can constantly change - passively consuming values but actively constructing
marxists - structure based on class conflict
radical feminism - society based on patriarchal values
postmodernists - not structural - society moved on - fragmented and have own values
what is the organic analogy
society works in similar way to human body
functional pre-requisites in order to function
views on family
parsons - nuclear family is most effective structure to socialise children carefully
new right - absent fatherism - lack of socialisation for son - leads to compensatory masculinity
organic analogy limitations
marxists - disagree as argue that institutions are passing down capitalist values to society to maintain dominance
feminists - disagree that we are consenting to a set of values that benefit each member of society
radical - society structured on a set of patriarchal values that are systematically passed through the agents
interactionists - society should not be understood by structual approach
personality factory
parsons - child is a blank slate and function of parents is to train and mould child - value consensus
views of family strengths
the new right - however highlight impact of breakdown of nuclear family and negative impact this can have on primary socialisation
view of family limitation
marxists - zaretsky - family contains capital ideology whereby working class socialised into accepting values of the ruling class
radical feminists - primary socialisation starting point whereby patriarchal gender identities taugh
liberal - ann oakley - disagrees with views of parsons as does not accept natural division of labour based on sex
role of education system
durkheim - transmit shared culture values - conformity and consensus eg history and religious studies - society past and present - sense of belonging and social solidarity
parsons - bridge between home and society - particularistic values and. universalistic values
views on education strengths
new right agree it should be to socialise individuals into set of shared cultural norms
views on education limistations
marxists - althusser - role is to pass down dominant ideology which socialises working class into accepting social inequalities are natural
interactionist dennis wrong - socialisation through the education system is not passive - negotiated process
radical - socialisation reinforces patriarchal oppression eg hidden curriculum and uniform
role of religion
benefits whole of society - sets moral values that are part of collective consciousness
socialises individuals into a value consensus
