Functionalism

• What does functionalism believe about social institutions?


  They shape individual behavior through norms and values
• What term describes the shared norms and values in society?


  Value consensus
• What is the collective conscience in functionalism?


  Society's moral codes that individuals subscribe to
• What are functional prerequisites in functionalism?


  Basic needs like food, shelter, and support
• What did Durkheim contribute to the understanding of education?


  Teaching specialist skills and social solidarity
• What positive functions of crime did Durkheim identify?

  Boundary maintenance and adaptation to change
• What is the significance of Durkheim's positivist methodology?


  It allows sociologists to observe measurable behaviors
• What is mechanical solidarity according to Durkheim?


  Social cohesion based on shared values
• How did Durkheim view social order?


  Maintained through conformity and similarity
• What is functionalism?


  A structural consensus theory that believes social institutions shape individual behavior through passing on society's norms and values
• What are the key concepts of functionalism?


  Value consensus, collective conscience, functional prerequisites, social solidarity
• Who are the key functionalist sociologists discussed in the material?

  Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, Robert K. Merton
• What were Durkheim's key ideas about social order and change?

  Social order maintained through conformity and social cohesion, but change can come through deviance and adaptation
• How did Durkheim's ideas on crime contribute to functionalism?

  Durkheim saw crime as having positive functions for society like boundary maintenance and adaptation to social changes
• What are the four functional prerequisites in Parsons' systems theory?

  • Goal attainment: Organizing resources to meet societal needs
  • Adaptation: Providing material needs through the economy
  • Integration: Transmitting norms and values through institutions
  • Latency: Maintaining social stability and managing tensions
• How did Merton's critique of Parsons' functionalism differ?

  Merton criticized Parsons' idea of universal functionalism, arguing that social institutions have functional autonomy and that inequality is dysfunctional
• What are the main criticisms of the functionalist approach?

  • Ideological and working backwards from effects to causes
  • Deterministic in assuming stable human behavior
  • Ignores conflict and whose norms/values are dominant
  • Outdated and based on 1950s Western norms
• What are the key contributions of functionalism to sociology?

  Establishing sociology as a scientific discipline, advancing the study of social institutions, and influencing contemporary ideologies
• How does functionalism compare to other sociological perspectives?

  • Functionalism is a structural consensus theory, while conflict theory sees society as inherently unequal
  • Functionalism uses positivist methodologies, while interpretivism focuses on subjective meanings
  • Functionalism looks at macro-level social institutions, while symbolic interactionism examines micro-level interactions
• What is Meritocracy?


  An ideology wherein those who work hard are rewarded for their ability and efforts.