Functionalism

• What type of theory is Functionalism?

  Structural consenus theory
• What do functionalist believe

  They believe there is a social structure made up of institutions(family,education,media,religion) which shape individuals behaviour.Institutions socioalise individuals and create value consensus
• What is Value consensus?

  People agreeing around a set of shared norms and values.It enables people to work together to achieve shared goals.
• What is the organic analogy?

  The organic analogy is a comparison between society and a biological organism, suggesting that society functions like a living organism with different parts working together for the overall well-being.
• What were George Murdocks 4 functions of the family?

  Educational-Children are taught the norms and values of society (primary socioalisation)

  Economic-The family provides an economic function to all its members by pooling resources and ensuring all have what they need

  Reproductive-Produces the next generation of society,gender socialisation leading to hetrosexual relationships

  Sexual-ensures that adults’ sexual relationships are controlled and stable
• More on George Murdocks Functions

  Economic-man works and provides for the family,women provide more of a domestic role, unpaid labout at home

  Sexual-Promotion of hetrodexuality ensured reproduction for next generatio.Socialisation into gender appropriate roles preparing children for adult life

  Education-Norms and values allow kids to fit into society and ensure ability to contribute

  Reproductio-promotes social behaviours
• What did Parsons argue? 


  He argued that in modern western societies the state provided education and could perform and economic function but the family still had more functions.
• What were the functions that Parsons argued on?

  Primary socialisation- Families taught children norms and values.However he argued that it taught children norms and values associated with the family and/or community while other instituons taught universal norms and values of wider society which was known as Secondary socialisation.
• What did Parsons argue is the Stabilisation of adult personalities?

  Families helped to prevent adults from behaving in disruptive or dysfunctional ways, instead of encouraging them to confirm to social norms especially in times of stress.The family provides emotional support to its members

  It is often referred as the the ‘warm bath theory’ - the idea that when a man came home from work he could relax into his family like a warm bath and it would take away stress and refresh him for his next day at work
• What were criticisms of the WBT?

  Marxists feminist Fran Ansley would argue that it is simply a rosy representation of the fact that men unload their stress and anger on women, leading to issues such as domestic violence
• What was the functional fit theory according to Parsons?


  Believed that family structures change along with society and that each type of family is created to ’fit’ society at the time.

  Pre-industrialisation= extended family

  Post-industrialisation= nuclear family
• Why did society move away from the extended family after industrialisation

  A geographically mobile workforce= ability to move around

  A socially mobile workforce = more skilled which is best shaped to the requirements of the economic system