Functionalism✔️

Question 1

How is society composed?

Answer 1

Of different parts and each part performs functions to enable society to achieve order and stability.

Question 2

Functionalist theory explains how…

Answer 2

Each part of society contributes to solidarity, value consensus and equilibrium.

Question 3

The man behind Functionalism…

Answer 3

Durkheim - he has a positive outlook, ‘glass hall full’ kind of man. His theory was that society is based on social order and stability and his goal is to explain how it was created and maintained.

Question 4

Social Solidarity:

Answer 4

Refers to the ties in society that bind people together as one. Working as a unit.

Question 5

Value Consensus:

Answer 5

If members of society have same values, they have similar identities. Agreement on what is important - culture is created.

Question 6

Equilibrium:

Answer 6

Where there is a dynamic working balance among its independent parts. An evenness within society.

Question 7

Durkheim and Parsons (another functionalist) used an Organic Analogy to explain social order:

Answer 7

Organic Analogy is wheee society is compared to the human body - it has different parts which all help it to function healthily.

Question 8

What are some examples of the different parts of Society:

Answer 8

Education, religion, law etc

Question 9

How do families and households contribute to solidarity?

Answer 9

Because it forms your own community - you are in union with your family and this promotes ‘sharing’ and creates a sense of belonging.

Question 10

How do families and households contribute to Value Consensus?

Answer 10

If you live together, you share the same values on how to maintain your home environment.

Question 11

How do families and households contribute to an Equilibrium?

Answer 11

If everyone fulfills their role it creates stability in the home and if the home is stable, then society will be stable.

Question 12

What type of families do Functionalists like Murdock think is superior?

Answer 12

The nuclear family . Traditional family type.

Question 13

Why do Functionalists like Murdock think the nuclear family is so superior? (5)

Answer 13

• it provides a stable sex drive (monogamus relationship)
• reproduces the next generation so society can continue.
• provides emotional support.
• meets its members economic needs.
• teaches the next generation the norms of society - Socialisation of the young.

Question 14

What are some critiques of the Functionalist theory on the family? (3)

Answer 14

• other family types can also provide those needs.
• not all families are close enough where they can receive emotional support.
• not all families can afford to provide shelter and food and the economic needs of their families.

Question 15

What are the two types of Socialisation according to Parsons? (Another sociologist)

Answer 15

• Primary Socialisation: children are only exposed to their family for the first part of their lives and therefore the family is responsible for reaching them the norms. Children mimic parents.
• Secondary Socialisation: when children are exposed to social media / school etc. Their adult relationships need to be stabilised to keep them stable.

Question 16

What is Parsons FUNCTIONAL FIT THEORY?

Answer 16

He says that when a society changes from pre-industrial to a modern industrial, the family also changes.

Question 17

How does Parsons functional fit theory say that the family changes once society becomes industrial?

Answer 17

• structure moves to nuclear than extended (STRUCTURAL CHANGES)
• it loses many of its functions (FUNCTIONAL CHANGES)

Question 18

Why does the family structurally change from being extended to nuclear because of Industrialisation? (2)

Answer 18

(a) geographically mobile workforce: easier to move around with work in a smaller family than a big one.
(b) socially mobile workforce: tensions and conflicts would emerge if a socially mobile younger generation with a higher status than their parents still lived at home.

Question 19

PARSONS argues that the evolution of society involves a process of…

Answer 19

Specialisation (e.g. banks) and structural differentiation. As society becomes more complex, we have specialist institutions so families have less functions.

Question 20

What are the essential functions of the family according to Parson’s Functional Fit Theory? (2)

Answer 20

1) primary Socialisation of children - families are factories which produce human personalities. They learn the norms and values from their families.
2) stabilisation of adult personalities - once the personality is established it must be kept stable = adults need emotional security and this is best achieved through marital relationship and parental roles.

Question 21

Explain how ‘marital relationships’ can keep adult personalities stable:

Answer 21

Males perform an instrumental role as the ‘provider’ while women perform an expressive comfort as they are the ‘mother role.’

These roles are complementary because they’re different so the stable relationship is formed.

Question 22

Explain how the ‘parental role’ creates the stabilisation of adult personalities:

Answer 22

Parents are able to endulge in childish behaviour which provide a break from adult personalities. Has a ‘cathartic’ effect = emotional release.