Functionalism Flashcards
(42 cards)
What type of theory is functionalism?
Macro, structural consensus theory
What does Durkheim believe?
Society has a distinct quality that can’t be reduced due to the motives of individuals, society ultimately exists outside to individuals
Society functions due to its value consensus and everyone agreeing on norms and values therefore relying on equalibrium
What is equilibrium?
Each subsystem will adjust to any change in the other subsystem and will continue to do so until any balance is retained
Rapid change will throw society into chaos
What is anomie? and examples?
If the value consensus breaks down then anomie occurs which is no norms and values ‘normlesness’
French revelation
Mass protests
War time
Natural disasters
What did durkheim think about rapid social change?
Didn’t like it believed it was a change from a social simple structure to a complex division of labour causing anomity
Why do people in traditional a society have a strong collective conscious whilst people in modern society have weak social solidarity?
We used to have collective consciousness meaning believed the same things (mechanical solidarity) everyone did the same jobs
Whereas as now we all have different viewpoints and. are seeing the world differently and have different hobes
Critics of durkheim kdea that society exists as a separate entity iver and a voice its members?
Bottom up theory
Peiple have free will within society and people doing veil things the same
What is mechanic solidarity?
Solidarity achieved because everyone has similar roles in society
Like a machine if something breaks it can be replaced
What is Organic solidarity?
Society’s functions like a body solidarity achiever because even though people have different roles they are independent on one another
One one part fails so does everything else
What’s collective conscience?
A shared way if behaving and understanding the world
What does parsons say about the human body analogy?
Society runs like a human body, if a part of society becomes did functional now then this affects everything, if this can’t be fixed it caused anomie
Parson- what does parson believe a system is?
The body and society are systems that have vital organs/ institutions which are indeoerndant
Parson- what does he believe are system needs?
Each system has needs e.g. nutrition/socialisation
Parsons- what does he believe functions are?
Each part of the system has vital functions to preform to ensure the survival as a whole
What is the value consensus and how does parsons say it’s created?
-Shared aims collectively agreed and used by society
-Created by socialisation by primary and secondary
What is intergration within the consensus?
It’s like a brige we learn differnt cultures and learn about things bigger
How do individuals feel apart if wider society’s?
Through socialisation and social controll individuals feel a part of their wider society
Their behaviour will be predictable and stable leading to social order in society
What is parsons social system?
Parson takes a building block approach to explain society as a system
Social system diagram?
Social system- All of these things make |up our society
|Sub system- institutions may be part of |larger groups e.g. shops, buisness
|banks are apart if the economy
|Institutions- statius and role are parts of institution’s e.g. teacher student role are part of education institutions
|Status/role clusters- human actions are governed by their statute each status had an associated role e.g. teacher must treat students for quality
What is the agil scheme?
Adaptation
Goal attainment
Intergration
Latency pattern latency
What is adaptation and institutions involved?
Providing the members of society with their material needs (jobs money and food) and continued to do this even if society changes
For example- economy and family
What is goal attainment and institutions?
Shared goals and the means to achieve them
e.g: govt and education
What is intergration and institutions involved?
Feeling cohesion in society commuted to achieving the same goals
for example- police family media and religion
What is latency and instetituons involved?
Ensuring the system continued by passing on values and norms to next generations, plus providing ways to let off steam to cope with pressure of work etc
For example- family media and religion
