Functionalism

• Structural theory= society shapes human's behaviour.
• Society is one big system with different institutions (e.g. family, education)
• puppets of society (no free will)
• consensus theory= agreement
• society runs smoothly because there's value consensus (common goals)
• each institution has its own function
• every institution must perform its function for society to run smoothly
• organic analogy= each organ is an institution, you need all organs/institutions to survive.
• Functionalists - Durkheim, Talcott Parsons
• Decline in popularity= popular in the 50s but not anymore.

  • diversity= cultures, identities, sexualities etc
• Freedom of choice= don't acknowledge freedom of choice.

  • we make our own actions.
  • 'over socialised' picture of the individual.
• Social problems= fail to explain occurrences e.g. child abuse, drug taking, war, poverty etc.
• Unequal power= unequal society, power not evenly distributed.

  • basis of Marxist argument