Functionalism (T&M)

Question 1

What is a consensus theory?

Answer 1

A consensus theory is one which believes that the institutions of society are working together to maintain social cohesion and stability.

Question 2

What is a structural theory?

Answer 2

A structural theory is one which looks at how the social institutions influence the running of society and individuals’ behaviours.

Question 3

What is value consensus?

Answer 3

Value Consensus means that a majority of society agree with the goals that society sets to show success.

Question 4

What is anomie?

Answer 4

Anomie means a feeling of normlessness where a person doesn’t know what it means to be normal within society.

Question 5

What are social facts and who is the key thinker?

Answer 5

Durkheim. Social facts are things such as institutions, norms and values which exist external to the individual and constrain the individual.

Question 6

What are Durkheim’s two ideas of society?

Answer 6

Society shapes the individual – A top-down theory where the institutions of society influence the behaviour of the individual.

Social solidarity, socialisation and anomie – Social solidarity and cohesion is achieved and maintained through socialisation and learning norms and values. Without this, society can fall into anomie (normlessness).

Question 7

What is the Organic Analogy and who used it?

Answer 7

Talcott Parsons. Society acts in a similar way to the human body through the way that social institutions interact in the same way as human organs.

Question 8

What are the three similarities between society and biological organisms according to Parsons?

Answer 8

System – Society and humans are systems of interconnected and interdependent parts which function for the good of the whole.

System needs – Organisms like the human body have needs that must be met, and so does society. Social institutions have evolved to meet society’s needs.

Functions – Just as organs of the body function for the good of the whole, so do social institutions, which have evolved functions that benefit society.

Question 9

What are two means of maintaining value consensus and social order?

Answer 9

Formal Social Control – Official groups who enforce society’s laws, such as the CJS and the Police.

Informal Social Control – Social groups such as family and peers who keep us in line through punishment and ostracisation.

Question 10

What are the four basic needs of society?

Answer 10

• Goal Attainment (Political Function) – Societies set goals and decide how power and resources are allocated.
• Adaptation (Economic Function) – Society must provide for the needs of its members.
• Integration (Social Harmony) – Institutions such as education and media reduce conflict and create belonging.
• Latency – The unstated consequences of actions, including Pattern Maintenance (maintaining value consensus through socialisation) and Tension Management (providing safe outlets for tension).

Question 11

What is the acronym for the basic needs of society?

Answer 11

GAIL.

Question 12

Who is the key internal critic of Functionalism and what are his criticisms?

Answer 12

Robert K. Merton.

Indispensability – Not all institutions are indispensable; there are functional alternatives (e.g., family is not the only institution that can perform primary socialisation).

Functional Unity – Not all institutions are tightly linked; some are distant from each other (e.g., banking and education).

Universal Functionalism – Not all institutions perform positive functions; some are dysfunctional (e.g., domestic abuse makes the family dysfunctional).

Question 13

What are manifest and latent functions?

Answer 13

• Manifest Function – The intended function of a social institution. Example: Hopi Indians perform a rain dance intending to make it rain.
• Latent Function – The unintended function. Example: The rain dance also helps maintain social solidarity.

Question 14

What are the external criticisms of Functionalism (Logical Criticisms)?

Answer 14

• The theory is teleological – explaining something by its function.
• Contradictory – something cannot be both functional and dysfunctional.
• Unscientific – impossible to falsify or verify.

Question 15

What are the external criticisms of Functionalism (Conflict Perspective)?

Answer 15

• Unable to explain conflict and change.
• Conservative ideology maintaining the status quo.
• Legitimises the position of the powerful.

Question 16

What are the external criticisms of Functionalism (Action Perspective)?

Answer 16

• Wrong (1961) – Functionalism is deterministic.
• Functionalism reifies society – treating it as a distinct ‘thing’.

Question 17

What are the external criticisms of Functionalism (Postmodern Perspective)?

Answer 17

• Unable to explain diversity and instability.
• Functionalism is outdated due to being a meta-narrative.