Topic 5: functionalism Flashcards
(40 cards)
Briefly explain the organic analogy
society is like a biological organism
organisms are relatively stable and harmonious systems which all parts work together for the common good
Briefly outline Parsons’ three similarities between society and a biological organism.
a. System
organisms eg human body and societies are both systems of interrelated independent parts which fit together. In the body this includes organs, cells etc. In society, the parts are institutions eg education system
Briefly outline Parsons’ three similarities between society and a biological organism.
System needs
organism have needs eg nutrients and if not the organism will die. Functionalists see the social system as having basic needs that must be met for survival eg members must be socialised if society is to continue
Briefly outline Parsons’ three similarities between society and a biological organism.
Functions
for func, the function of any part of the system is to contribute to systems needs and survival. eg the circulatory system of the body which carries nutrients and oxygen to the tissues. Similarly in the economy helps maintain the social system by meeting the needs for food and shelter
According to Parsons, how is social order achieved?
through the existence of a shared culture or in his words a central value system.
Define the following key terms:
a. Culture
A culture is a set of norms, values and beliefs and goals shared by members of society. It provides a framework about how to behave and what people should expect of them
b. Value consensus
social order is only possible so long as members of society agree on set norms and values with value consensus being the agreement (parsons)
glue which holds society together
Briefly explain how value consensus makes social order possible.
does by integrating individuals into the social system, thereby directing them towards meeting the systems needs.
eg the system has to ensure that peoples material needs are met, and consensus may include a general value about the need for people to work
Briefly outline the following two mechanisms for ensuring that individuals conform to shared norms and meet the system’s needs:
a. Socialisation (parsons)
through the socialisation process, individuals internalise he systems norms and values so that society becomes part of the personality. different agencies of socialisation eg education system and religion contribute to this process
Briefly outline the following two mechanisms for ensuring that individuals conform to shared norms and meet the system’s needs:
. Social control (parsons)
positive sanctions reward conformity, while negative ,ones punish deviance. eg if the value system emphasises individual achievement through educational success. Those who conform may be rewarded with degrees while those who deviate will be stigmatised in society
How does integration into a shared value system makes orderly social life possible?
this means that there behaviour is orientated towards pursuing society’s shared goals and meeting its needs. The behaviour of each individual will be relatively predictable, allowing cooperation between them
Briefly explain the following ‘building blocks’ in Parsons’ model of the social system:
a. Actions
each action we perform is governed by specific norms and rules .
Briefly explain the following ‘building blocks’ in Parsons’ model of the social system:
Norms
the specific norms and rules which are governed come in ‘clusters’ called status roles
Briefly explain the following ‘building blocks’ in Parsons’ model of the social system:
Status-roles
statuses are the positions that exist in a given social system eg teacher. Roles are sets of norms that tell us how the occupant of a status must carry out their duties eg teacher must not show favouritism
Briefly explain the following ‘building blocks’ in Parsons’ model of the social system:
Institutions
status roles also come in clusters, known as institutions. eg the family is an institution made up of the related roles of father, mother etc.
Briefly explain the following ‘building blocks’ in Parsons’ model of the social system:
Sub-systems
related institutions are grouped together into sub- systems. eg shops, factories, banks etc are part of the economic sub- system, whose function is to meet society’s material needs
finally, these sub systems together make up the social system as a whole
what are the following ‘building blocks’ in parsons model of the social system
actions norms status- roles institutions subsystems
Briefly outline the four basic system needs (AGIL schema) that Parsons identifies:
a. Adaptation
the social system meets its members material needs through the economic systems
Briefly outline the four basic system needs (AGIL schema) that Parsons identifies:
Goal attainment
society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. This is the function of the political sub system
Briefly outline the four basic system needs (AGIL schema) that Parsons identifies:
Integration
the different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals. This is the role of the sub - system of religion, education and the media
Briefly outline the four basic system needs (AGIL schema) that Parsons identifies:
Latency
refers to the process that maintain society over time. This provides pattern maintenance ( socialising individuals to go on performing the roles society requires) and tension management ( a place to ‘let off steam’ after the stresses of work)
Which of these systems needs are instrumental and which expressive?
adaption and goal attainment as instrumental needs
this refers to the means to an end eg producing food to sustain population
integration and latency as expressive needs, this is due to the fact that it involves channelling emotions
what do the 4 sub systems needs do
by carrying out their respective functions, the four systems ensure that society’s needs are met and social stability is maintained
Briefly outline the norms of the following types of society:
a. Modern society
we pursue our individual self interest, achieve our status and we are all judged by the same universalistic standards eg equality before the law