Functionalist

• Functionalism


  A consensus perspective that sees society as based on value consensus - a set of shared norms and values into which society socialises its members, allowing them to cooperate harmoniously to meet society's needs and achieve shared goals
• Functionalist view of society

  • Society is a system made up of different parts or sub-systems that depend on each other, such as the family, the education system and the economy
  • Society is compared to a biological organism like the human body, where different parts/organs perform functions vital to the well-being of the whole
• Family


  A particularly important subsystem and basic building block of society
• Essential functions of the family (Murdock 1949)

  • Reproduction - provides new members of society
  • Sexual - provides a stable sexual relationship for adults
  • Economic - provides food and shelter
  • Education - teaches children norms and values of society
• Murdock accepts that other institutions could perform these functions, but argues the nuclear family is universal as it is the best way to meet these needs
• Criticisms of Murdock's view


  Marxist and feminist sociologists argue it neglects conflict and exploitation, with the family serving the needs of men and capitalism rather than all members
• Parsons' view


  The functions and structure of the family depend on the type of society it is found in - the nuclear family fits the needs of modern industrial society, while the extended family fits traditional pre-industrial society
• How the nuclear family fits the needs of modern industrial society

  1. Geographical mobility - the compact nuclear family is better able to move to where jobs are

  2. Social mobility - the nuclear family encourages social mobility as there is less conflict between ascribed and achieved status
• Key aspects of Functionalism

  • Structural consensus theory focusing on the positive functions of institutions and social structure
  • Applied to the family, education, crime and deviance, and modernisation theory