Functionalism Flashcards
What is ORGANIC ANALOGY?
and the 3 SIMILARITIES between SOCIETY and a BIOLOGICAL ORGANSIM
term use to DESCRIBE SOCIETY as being LIKE a BIOLOGICAL ORGANISM
- System
- System needs
- Functions
Explain PARSONS’ view that SOCIETY and a BIOLOGICAL ORGANISM are similar through - SYSTEM
ORGANISMS, e.g. Human Body and SOCIETIES are both SELF REGULATING SYSTEMS of INTER RELATED, INDEPENDENT PARTS that Fit Together in Fixed Ways
Body - parts = organs, cells
Society - parts = Institutions ( education system , family
Explain PARSONS’ view that SOCIETY and a BIOLOGICAL ORGANISM are similar through - SYSTEM NEEDS
ORGANISM have NEEDS - e.g. NUTRITION - if Not Met, Organism Dies
SOCIAL SYSTEM has Basic NEEDS e.g. SOCIALISATION - or else the Syetem dies - NEEDED for SOCIETY to CONTINUE
How does PARSONS believe SOCIAL ORDER is ACHIEVED ?
and what is VALUE CONSENSUS
Through the EXISTENCE of a SHARED CULTURE , a central value system
VALUE CONSENSUS - the GLUE that HOLDS SOCIETY TOGETHER - AGREEMENT About What VALUES are IMPORTANT
How does VALUE CONSENSUS make SOCIAL ORDER POSSIBLE ?
is done By INTERGRATING INDIVIDUALS INTO the SOCIAL SYSTEM , thereby DIRECTING THEM Towards the SYSTEM’S NEEDS
e.g. the System has to Ensure that People’s Material Needs are Met, so the Consensus may Include a Genral Value about the Need for People to Work
PARSONS - What are the 2 MECHANISMS the System Has to ENSURE INDIVIDUALS CONFORM to SHARED NORMS & MEET System’s NEEDS?
- SOCIALISATION
- SOCIAL CONTROL
PARSONS - How does the SOCIALISATION Ensure that Individuals Conform to Shared Norms & Meet the System’s Needs ?
ENSURES NEEDS are MET by TEACHING Individuals to WANT to DO what It REQUIRES Them to DO
Socialisation - INDIVIDUALS INTERNALISE the SYSTEM’S NORMS & VALUES so Society becomes Part of their Persoanlity Sttructure
Family, Education, Media
PARSONS - How does the SOCIAL CONTROL Ensure that Individuals Conform to Shared Norms & Meet the System’s Needs ?
POSITIVE SANCTIONS REWARD CONFOMRITY wheras NEGATIVE Ones PUNIISH DEVIANCE
e.g. if Value SYSTEM STRESSES INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT Through EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS, those who CONFORM -> REWARDED with College Diplomas , those who DEVIATE by DROPPING OUT may be STIGAMTISED
HOW does INTERGRATION into a SHARED VALUE SYSTEM MAKE ORDERLY SOCIAL LIFE Possible?
as INDIVIDUALS are INTERGREATED through Socialisation and Social Control, Their BEHAVIOUR is OREINTATED TOWARDS Society’s Goals and Meeting it’s Needs
the BEHAVIOUR of EACH INDIVIDUAL will be PREDICTABLE & STABLE
Durkheim - traditional society
.
What are the 5 BUILDING BLOCS that Make Up PARSONS’ MODEL of the SOCIAL SYSTEM? top to bottom
- SUB-SYSTEMS : e.g. banks, shops -> function to meet society’s material needs
- INSTITUTIONS : status roles come in clusters , e.g. education
- STATUS-ROLES : status’ = positions that exist in a social system e.g. teacher. roles = their duties
- NORMS : come in clusters
- ACTIONS : each action is governed by norms / rules
What are the 4 Basic SYSTEM’S NEEDS that PARSONS Identifies in his AGIL Schema ?
- ADAPTATION : system meets members material needs through economic sub-system
- GOAL ATTAINMENT : society sets goals and allocate resources to achieve them, function of the political sub-system
- INTERGRATION : different parts of society integrated to pursue goals, role of insitutions
- LATENCY : mainitaing society over time, kinship subsystem -> provides pattern maintenance and tension management e.g. relieve stress of after work
Which of PARSONS’ Needs in his AGIL Schema are INSTRUMENTAL and EXPRESSIVE
INSTRUMENTAL : ADAPATION and GOAL ATTAINMENT as they are A Means To An End
EXPRESSIVE : INTERGRATION and LATENCY since they Involve the Expression or Challenging Of Emotions
State a Subsystem , Instiution, Status Roles, Norms governing status roles for all 4 AGIL Schema needs
ADAPTATION : Economic System , Banks , Bankers , Business Should Pay Workers
GOAL ATTAINMENT : Political System , Political Parties, MPs , MPs should Represent Constituents
INTERGRATION : Socialisation, Edcuation , Teachers, Teacher should Inlcude All Pupils
LATENCY : FAMILY , Education , Teachers, Basic Socialisation
PARSONS - what are the NORMS of MODERN and TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
and HOW do SOCIETY’s CHANGE from One to Another
MODERN SOCIETY NORMS - pursuing Indiviudal Self Interest , judged by same Universalistic Standards
TRADITIONAL SOCIETY NORMS - put COLLECTIVE INTERESTS FIRST , judged by Particularistic Standards
CHANGE is GRADUAL process of STRUCTUAL DIFFERENTIATION
