functionalism

• macro theory

  takes an overall view of society
• structural theory

  looks at how structure of society has an impact on human behaviour
• functionalism was founded by Emile Durkheim.

  organic analogy - believed that society was made up of different institutions that work together to serve the needs of the system.
• what are the four basic needs of society?

  1. adaptation
  2. goal attainment
  3. integration
  4. latency
• one of the four basic needs of the system is adaptation. what does this mean?

  system's ability to adapt to its surroundings and serve material needs of individuals.
• one of the four basic needs of the system is goal attainment. what does this mean?

  setting goals and allocating resources to achieve them.
• one of the four basic needs of the system is integration. what does this mean?

  parts of the system should mix and work together.
• one of the four basic needs of the system is latency. what does this mean?

  processes that maintain stability and unity in society

  • processes include socialisation, cultural practices and shared traditions.
• define the term socialisation.

  process by which we learn things that make us fit in with a particular society
• what THINGS do we learn to make us fit in with a particular society?

  • language
  • norms and values
  • appropriate behaviour
• how are we socialised?

  learned and controlled through social institutions, known as agencies of socialisation.
• give examples of social institutions.

  • family teaches norms
  • school prepare workers
  • religion gives meaning
• social institutions allows for social order and avoids anomie. what do these terms mean?

  social order : structure ensuring stability

  anomie : a normless society full of chaos and disorder.
• define collective conscience.

  refers to the shared values and beliefs in society which is achieved through socialisation and is essential for value consensus
• give an example of value consensus

  the global agreement on the importance of human rights eg freedom of speech.
• Parson stated that social institutions provide social control through sanctions.

  • positive sanctions rewards conformity.
  • negative sanctions punishes deviance.
• Parson argues that social institutions encourages social solidarity and social integration. Define these terms.

  • social solidarity: the unity and connection among individuals.
  • social integration: process of uniting diverse individuals in society.
• what is primary socialisation? (PARSON)

  the process in which children learn the norms and values of their culture and society.
• how is primary socialisation taught formally?

  in schools through structured education
• how is primary socialisation taught informally?

  through family and peers through daily interactions and experiences.

  • peers play a crucial role by modelling behaviour and providing guidance.
• what is secondary socialisation

  individuals learn and adopt the norms and values of larger social groups beyond their family.
• secondary socialisation transfers particularistic values into universal values.
• what are some internal criticisms by ROBER MERTON?

  • indispensability
  • functional unity
  • universal functionalism.
• one of the internal criticism from MERTON was indispensability. what does this mean?

  parson assumes that everything in society is essential.

  MERTON points out there are possibilities of functional alternatives. eg primary socialisation is assumed to be best performed by nuclear families but one parent families may do this just as well.
• one of the internal criticism from MERTON was functional unity. what does this mean?

  Parson assumes that social institutions are tightly integrated and have knock on effects on each other which might not be the case as society is complex and some parts might be distantly related
• one of the internal criticism from MERTON was universal functionalism. what does this mean?

  PARSON assumes that everything performs a positive function.

  • some aspects of society may be dysfunctional for certain groups
• functionalism is a consensus theory

  there is a shared collective idea on how people should be behaving.
• why might people criticise functionalism for being a structural theory?

  seen as deterministic as it fails to acknowledge that people have free will and are not just controlled by social deterministic.
• why is functionalism viewed as a too optimistic perspective of society?

  ignores conflict in society and focuses too much on consensus.
• what do functionalist believe about social change?

  social change is highly undesirable, when such change may in fact be needed to correct inequality and any other flaws in the status quo
• define status quo

  the current state of affairs.
• functionalism has an androcentric (male), westernised view.

  eg: different family structures in society does not mean societies are falling into anomie

  • does not acknowledge how some institutions may be sexist or racist.