Functionalism

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Modernist structuralist consensus theory rooted in work of Durkheim and refined by parsons and merton. Regards society as a stable, harmonious integrated social system maintained by fundamental value consensus.

Question 2

Society as a system

Answer 2

Parts fit together to form integrated whole- organic analogy. All social phenomena regarded as having some function in society such as pain in human body shows something is wrong.

Question 3

Functional prerequisities

Answer 3

Parsons

Basic needs that must be met if society is to survive.

Question 4

Establishment and maintenance of social order

Answer 4

Durkheim suggests people are selfish and society will fall into chaos unless we share common values and show commitment to cooperation in society. Placed importance on institutions like family and education as socialises people into collective conscience.

Question 5

What did parsons say?

Answer 5

Shared durkheims view on importance of agencies of socialisation and building collective conscious but emphasised primary socialisation in family.

Question 6

Collective conscience

Answer 6

Shared beliefs and values, forming moral ties binding communities together and regulate individual behaviour

Question 7

Structural differentiation

Answer 7

Way new more specialised social institutions emerge to take over functions that were once performed by a single institution

Question 8

Dysfunction

Answer 8

Part of social structure which does not contribute to maintenance and well-being of society

Question 9

Manifest function

Answer 9

Merton: Recognized and intended outcome of the action of an individual or institution

Question 10

Latent function

Answer 10

Merton: Unrecognized or unintended outcome of the action of and individual or institution

Question 11

Merton

Answer 11

Criticised Parsons for assumption that all social institutions performed beneficial, positive functions for society. Complex interdependent social system so easily goes wrong. Introduced idea of dysfunction to explain.

Question 12

Strengths of functionalism

Answer 12

1. Along with marxism its a reasonably successful attempt to explain society
2. Recognises importance of social structures in understanding society
3. Provides explanation for social order and stability

Question 13

Weaknesses of functionalism

Answer 13

1. Action theorists see it as too deterministic
2. Postmodernists argue tries to explain everything from single perspective and metanarratives can no longer be used to explain
3. Doesn’t explain social change effectively
4. Over-emphasises beneficial aspects of functions performed by social institutions

Question 14

Functionalism and new right

Answer 14

Both place emphasis on importance of socialisation into core values of maintenance of social stability.

Question 15

GAIL model

Answer 15

1. Goal attainment
2. Adaptation
3. Integration
4. Latency