functionalism

• functionalism - a consensus theory is one which believes that the institutions of society are working together to maintain social cohesion and stability
• functionalism - a structural theory is one which looks at how the social institutions influence the running of society and individuals behaviours
• functionalism - value consensus means that a majority of society agree with the goals that society sets to show success
• functionalism - anomie means a feeling of normlessness where a person doesn't know what it means to be normal within society
• functionalism - Social facts

  DURKHEIM

  • social facts are things such as institutions, norms and values which exist external to the individual and constrain the individual
• Durkheim's ideas of society

  1. society shapes the individual - top-down theory where the institutions of society influence the behaviour of the individual
  2. social solidarity socialisation and anomie - social solidarity and cohesion is achieved and maintained through socialisation process and learning of norms and values - can fall into anomie
• functionalism - organic analogy

  PARSONS

  • society acts in a similar way to the human body through the way that social institutions interact in the same way as human organs
• functionalism - three similarities between society and biological organisms

  1. system - society and humans are systems of interconnected and inter-dependent parts which function for the good of the whole
  2. system needs - organisms like the human body have needs that need to be met and so does society - social institution have evolved to meet society's needs
  3. functions - just as the organs of the body function for the good of the whole so do social institutions - which have evolved functions which benefit society as a whole
• functionalism - two means of maintaining value consensus and social order

  1. formal social control - official groups that enforce societies laws - CJS and the police
  2. informal social control - other social groups - family and peers who keep us in line through punishment and ostraczation
• functionalism - four basic need of society

  GAIL

  G - goal attainment

  A - adaption

  I - integration

  L - latency
• functionalism - four basic need of society

  Gail

  Goal attainment

  • societies set goals and decisions about how power and economic resources are allocated
• functionalism - four basic need of society

  gAil

  Adaptation

  • every society has to provide for the needs of its members in order for the society survive
• functionalism - four basic need of society

  gaIl

  Integration

  • specialist institutions develop to reduce conflict in society
  • education and media create sense of belonging
• functionalism - four basic need of society

  gaiL

  Latency

  • the unstated consequences of actions - two types of latency
  • Pattern maintenance - maintaining value consensus through socialisation and tension management
  • opportunities to release tension in a safe way
• internal criticisms of functionalism - MERTON

  1. indispensability
  2. functional unity
  3. universal functionalism
• internal criticisms of functionalism - MERTON

  INDISPENSABILITY

  • not all social institutions are functionally indispensable and that there are functional alternatives
  • the family are not the only institution that can perform primary socialization
• internal criticisms of functionalism - MERTON

  FUNCTIONAL UNITY

  • not all social institutions are as tightly linked as Parsons suggests
  • some institutions are quite far removed form each other
  • e.g. the rules of banking and education
• internal criticisms of functionalism - MERTON

  UNIVERSAL FUNCTIONALISM

  • not all the institutions of society perform a positive function for society
  • may be dysfunctional
  • e.g. domestic abuse makes the family dysfunctional for its members
• functionalism - A manifest function:

  is the intended function of a social institution

  e.g. the rain dance performed by the Hopi Indians with the intention of making it rain
• functionalism - A latent function:

  Is the unintended function of a social institution

  e.g. Hopi Indians - the rain dance also helps to maintain social solidarity
• functionalism - AO3

  LOGICAL CRITICISMS

  • the theory is teleological - a thing exists because of its function or effect
  • contradictory - how can something be both functional and dysfunctional
  • unscientific - impossible to falsify or verify the theory
• functionalism - AO3

  CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE

  • unable to explain conflict and change in society
  • it is a conservative ideology that tries to maintain the status quo
  • legitimises the position of the powerful
• functionalism - AO3

  ACTION PERSPECTIVE

  • WRONG - functionalism is deterministic
  • functionalism reifies society - treating it as a distinct 'thing'
• functionalism - AO3

  POSTMODERN PERSPECTIVE

  • unable to explain diversity and instability in society
  • functionalism is outdated due to being a meta-narrative