3.3 - Functionalism

• What is functionalism?

  • a structural perspective that views social order as based on value consensus
• What is the organic analogy?

  • proposed by Parsons and Durkheim - identifies the similarities between a biological organism and society
• Organic Analogy -

  1. SYSTEM - organisms and societies are both self regulating systems of interrelated parts that fit together in a fixed way. In the body, they are the cells and in society they are institutions (education system, media, family)
  2. SYSTEM NEEDS - organisms need food to survive and society needs adequate socialisation to survive
  3. FUNCTION - in order for systems to survive, it depends on the contribution made to the system needs
• What is value consensus and social order?

  • proposed by Parsons
  • social order is achieved through 'central value system'
  • A shared culture adopts the same beliefs, norms and values and co operates together in order to define goals, norms, and values of society
  • Social order can only be maintained through VALUE CONSENSUS
• What is value consensus?

  • if the whole of society conforms to the same norms and values
• How are individuals intergrated?

  1. SOCIALISATION - teaching the different norms and values needed to function in society. Agents of socialisation are media, education system and family
  2. SOCIAL CONTROL - positive sanctions (degrees) are given to those who conform and negative sanctions to those who do not.
• What are the system needs?

  • GOAL ATTAINMENT - society defining different goals and providing resources necessary for them
  • ADAPTATION - economic sub systems meeting the material needs of society
  • INTERGRATION - different institutions integrate together to achieve specific goals
  • LATENCY - maintaining society over time
• What is pattern maintenance?

  • society allocating specific roles to individuals
• What is tension management?

  • society providing places to relieve stress
• What is social change through society?

  1. Traditional society
  2. Modern society
• What is a traditional society?

  1. Ascribed status - status based on fixed traits by virtue of existence
  2. Collective orientation - focusing on the needs of the group rather than the individual
  3. Diffuseness - relationships are broad with a range of functions
  4. Particularism - norms emphasise treating people differently through kinship
  5. Affectivity - immediate gratification of desires
• What is a modern society?

  1. Achieved status - work hard to gain your status
  2. Self orientation - focussing on yourself
  3. Specificity - relationships have specific functions
  4. Universalism - emphasise treating people equally
  5. Affectivity - deferred gratification
• Criticisms-

  1. Merton states that some institutions can be dysfunctional to society. For example, religion can make or break a society.
  2. Merton says Parsons does not distinguish the consequences of the functions
• Criticisms -

  • Sharrock et al - consensus is exaggerated
  • Organic analogy - organisms are biological life cycles but society is not
• Criticisms -

  • Interactionists argue that Parsons describes society as pulling people like puppets via string. Postmodernists argue that people have more choice and agency over actions within society.