Functionalism (consensus structuralism)

Question 1

Functionalism is

Answer 1

a modernist structuralist consensus theory, rooted in Durkheim’s work and refined by Parsons and Merton. It was very popular in 50s and 60s but is now seen as old-fashioned. Functionalism sees society as stable and harmonious, with social order and cohesion maintained through value consensus.

Question 2

Functionalist view of society as a system

Answer 2

• views society as a structure of interconnected parts which fit together to form an integrated whole, with different institutions (family, education etc) analysed in relation to their contribution
• often uses the analogy of society as the human body, with different organs
• Parsons - society has functional prerequisites
• all social phenomena serve a function (eg Durkheim’s functions of crime)

Question 3

Functional prerequisites (Parsons)

Answer 3

basic needs which must be met for society to survive (eg food production, care of the young)

Question 4

Parsons - GAIL method (4 functional prerequisites for a healthy society which solve 2 kinds of problems)

Answer 4

GOAL ATTAINMENT - selection of goals and providing means of achieving them eg parliament setting goals and using taxes to achieve them
ADAPTATION - adapting to environment and providing material necessities eg economy making and distributing goods
INTEGRATION - coordinating all parts of the system to share goals (value consensus), achieved through cultural/ community organisations like education, media or religion
LATENCY - minimising social tensions and preserving value consensus (eg through family and kinship)

Question 5

Parsons - the 2 kinds of problems solved through functional prerequisites in GAIL

Answer 5

Instrumental problems - setting and achieving social goals, adapting and achieving basic needs (Goal attainment and Adaptation in GAIL)
Expressive problems - maintaining cooperation and solidarity, managing conflict and tensions (Integration and Latency in GAIL)

Question 6

Parsons and Durkheim - social order is formed through

Answer 6

socialisation and building value consensus

Question 7

Parsons - structural differentiation meaning

Answer 7

new, more specialised social institutions emerge to take over functions that were once performed by a single institution
eg pre-industrialisation the family taught people how to work but now there’s more work-based training and education

Question 8

Functionalist view of social change

Answer 8

occurs very slowly, changes in one part of the system will cause changes elsewhere but the system will remain balanced and stable (explained by Parsons in structural differentiation)

Question 9

Merton (functionalist) - dysfunction

Answer 9

• criticised Parsons for suggestion that all social institutions perform only beneficial functions
• in a highly complex interdependent social system things can go wrong and dysfunctions can occur and have consequences on other structures (eg problems in family affect education etc)

Question 10

Merton - dysfunction meaning

Answer 10

refers to a part of the social structure which does not contribute to the maintenance and wellbeing of society, but creates tensions and other problems
eg new technology provides jobs and goods but also harms environment

Question 11

Merton - manifest and latent functions of social structures

Answer 11

• a manifest function has intended and recognised consequences
• a latent function is the unrecognised or unintended outcome of the action of an individual or institution

for example - a hospital has the manifest function of providing healthcare but the latent function that it provides a way for those who work there to meet potential partners

Question 12

Strengths of functionalism overall

Answer 12

• provides a reasonably successful attempt to produce a general theory of the workings of society
• recognises the importance of social structures and their effects on individuals, as well as the links between structures
• provides an explanation for social order and stability, and why most people conform

Question 13

Weaknesses of functionalism overall

Answer 13

• action theories view it as too deterministic, viewing people as overly passive and not allowing for individual choice
• it is a metanarrative (Postmodernists suggest metanarratives cannot explain complex fragmented contemporary societies)
• does not explain period of rapid social change
• over-emphasises benefits of social structures (except Merton) - eg Durkheim viewing crime as beneficial
• presumes value consensus
• ignores and downplays conflict
• supports the status quo and doesn’t recognise need for social change

Question 14

Functionalism and the New Right

Answer 14

The New Right ideology uses lots of functionalist theory, especially social consensus and shared values, used by the Conservative government between 1979 and 1997
New Right theorists like Murray argue the welfare state has devalued the family institution and caused a dependency culture