Functionalism Flashcards
(11 cards)
Durkheim: POINT
- concerned with the rapid social change + transition to modern industrial society
- saw change from: simple social structure to a complex division of labour
- trad soc = based on mechanical solidarity all members fairly alike
- strong cc bound them
- modern soc: division in labour promotes differences between social groups and weakens SS, greater freedom for individual - must be regulated to prevent egoism destroying social bonds
- rapid change undermines old norms not creating clear new ones - creates state of anomie
Durkheim - MODULE LINKS
- EDUCATION: schools create CC via teaching of history informing us of our shared culture
- CRIME: is functional as it can lead to CC eg publics reaction to shocking crimes
durkheim A03
- lacks contemporary relevance lack of CC in diverse PM socs
- claims are unscientific - fails to explain how much crime is dysfunctional
Parsons MODULE LINK
- FAMILY: loss of functions - structural differentiation and irreducible functions
- EDUCATION: it’s a bridge: family and wider soc creating a meritocracy
parsons POINT
- value consensus and social order underpins successful socs
- achieved via existence of shared culture/central value system
- culture = set of norms value beliefs agreed with members of society agreement = VC - glue that binds soc together
- individuals = integrated into VC via socialisation and social order
- Eg: socialisation process - individuals internalise systems norms and values so soc becomes part of their personality structure- agencies contribute to this
4 ways needs of soc are met are called functional prerequisites
1. adaption: functioning economy’s ensure needs of individuals are met
2. goal attainment: political system goals are set in order to achieve shared actions eg goal of edu quails and goal of work
3. integration: diff parts of society must be integrated together to pursue shared goals this role is carried out by religion edu and media
4. latency: maintaining soc over time, families achieve by socialising generations of people into roles soc requires
parsons: A03
shared values stated by parsons maybe the values of the dominant ruling class or of men (patriarchal) eg his warm bath theory is criticised by feminist for ignoring the exploitation of women
also myth of meritocracy
robert merton: POINT
- does criticise parson for assuming all parts of soc are tightly integrated into single whole or unity and that each part is functional for all the rest
- STUDY: strain: he argues the goal of wealth in western socs can actually lead to dysfunction - those who can’t achieve material wealth by legitimate means may innovate and turn to crime in order to be successful - shared goal of wealth may cause disruption over social harmony
- socs have manifest and latent functions - intended event (manifest function) may have unintended consequence (latent function) eg rain dance
merton: MODULE LINK
CRIME: strain theory - conflict between american dream and blocked opportunities. Strain is an example of a latent functions An unintended consequence of the shared goal of wealth
merton: A03
he ignores that consequences of manifest functions may be intended for example as a means of controlling the WC via ideology
regarding strain he assumes everyone shares the success goal of wealth
Functionalism and research methods
- adopt positivist approach
- believe study of soc should be scientific
DURKHEIM:- soc is made up of ‘objectively measurable social facts which shape the behaviour of individuals
- his study of suicide he used official statistics ( he saw as objective social facts) to create a theory of suicide based on variables such as integration
- argued: lower rates of suicide in catholic countries = result of higher levels of integration due to Catholicism’s nature - opposite applied in Protestant countries - suicide rates appeared higher
- use of official stats = comparative method ( form of thought experiment)
A03 evaluation functionalism and research methods
interactionists eg ATKINSON and DOUGLAS criticise Durkheim use of official suicide stats - saw them as being socially constructed:
- eg: rather than being ‘social facts’, argued coroners in catholic countries had been influenced by family of the deceased to not give suicide verdict due to stigma
