functionalism

• older people actively disengage from some social roles leaving them for younger people to pick up, which leads them to the periphery of society. This process of disengagement is functional because it allows industrial society to operate using the nuclear family where clear roles are defined.  
• Parsons


  • Differences in the social roles associated with age groups are vital for the smooth functioning of society. It is vital for children to develop independence from their parents and shift their loyalty from parents to partners.
  • youth culture involves rebellion which can cause conflict, but this is not always negative
  • elderly have less status in us society.
  • once elderly have grown up and men have retired, the elderly lose their important social roles. They may also be isolated from their children who tend to focus more on their marriage partners and children, rather than their parents
• Parsons


  Through interconnected roles, the importance of institutions in society is to maintain social stability. Certain age groups have norms and values that could threaten social stability – for example, rebellious youth or dependent elderly.

  Parsons focuses on society’s role in managing these issues as well as the cause of inequality at these times. 
• Parsons and Eisenstadt


  • They focused on youth being a time for individuals to grow up and learn their new adult roles, which are imperative for society’s stability.
  • Parsons work - analogy of a bridge. youth culture = bridge from childhood to adulthood. This explains that while some youth behave in a way that seems dysfunctional to society, it can actually allow for a more integrated society later.
  • Institutions in society (formal and informal agents of S.C) set up to deal with these dysfunctional actions.
  • the stage of youth in life allows for mistakes to be made for lessons to be learnt
• Parsons and Eisenstadt


  • some elderly people become less physically able to maintain their roles in society.
  • as the elderly cannot fulfill these roles, new roles must be acquired.
  • the elderly have become an invaluable source of free childcare for many families, with grandparents caring for their grandchildren
  • Eisenstadt - differential age groups learn new roles that lead to cohesion and solidarity in society
• Cummings and Henry - disengagement theory

  • idea that everyone will eventually die and ageing leads to a decline in abilities
  • as individuals age, there is a mutual need for them to be relieved of some responsibilities and roles
  • when individuals leave their roles, a gap is formed that must be filled to maintain social stability
  • disengagement is a process that helps manage this gap - e.g through a retirement age.