1. Functionalism (Consensus) Flashcards
What is functionalism
-A macro, structural theory. It focuses on the needs of the social system as a whole and how these needs shape all the main features of society.
-Functionalists believe we can obtain true knowledge of the functioning of society and that this knowledge can be used to improve society
-Founded by Durkheim
Society as a system
-When describing society, functionalists say it is like a biological organism
-Parsons (1970) identifies three similarities between society and a biological organism:
- System
-Both self regulating systems of inter related, interdependent parts that fit together in fixed ways.
-In the body these are organs and cells, in society they are institutions (education system, the family)
- System needs
-Organisms have needs, such as nutrition. If these are not met the organism will die. Functionalists see the social system as having basic needs that must be met in order to survive. For example it’s members must be socialised for society to continue
- Functions
-The function of any part of a system is the contribution it makes to meeting the systems needs and thus ensuring its survival
-For example, the circulatory system of the body carries nutrients and oxygen to the tissues.
-Similarly the economy helps maintain the social system by meeting the need for food and shelter.
Value consensus and social order
-How is social order possible?
-Social order is achieved through the existence of shared culture or a central value system
-A culture is a are of norms, values, beliefs and goals shared by members of society.
-Provides framework that allows individuals to cooperate by laying down rules about how they should behave and what others may expect of them.
-Social order is only possible if members of society agree on these norms and values. This is value consensus
Integration of individuals
-The basic function of value consensus is to make social order possible. It does this by integrating individuals into the social system. Parsons believed the system has two mechanisms for ensuring that individuals conform to shared norms and meet the systems needs: —>
Mechanism 1: Socialisation
-Social system can ensure that its needs are met by teaching individuals to want to do what it requires them to do
-Through the socialisation process individuals internalise the systems norms and values so society becomes part of their personality structure
-Different agencies of socialisation (such as the family) all contribute to the process
Mechanism 2: social control
-Positive sanctions reward conformity while negative ones punish deviance
-For example, if the value system stresses individual achievement through educational success, those who conform may be rewarded with college diplomas, whereas those who drop out may be stigmatised as layabouts
Parsons: Social system
-Functionalists claim a change in one institution, will have an effect on other parts of the social system, which could be dysfunctional for society. For example, the rise in single parent families as a alternative to nuclear family is seen as the cause for children doing less academically well in school
-Parsons argues that there are 4 basic needs for the social system, which he calls functional prerequisites, important for the survival and maintenance of society: AGIL —>
A G I L
Adaption: this deals with the economic function of society. Every society needs to ensure there are enough economic and material resources available to cater for the survival of its members e.g. housing, food etc
Goal attainment: This deals with with the political function of society. Every society needs to set goals for each of its members to achieve e.g. schools goal is to educate and improve standards
Integration: This deals with the socialisation function of society. Each sub-social system of must ensure the process of socialisation to integrate its members into sharing the same values and goals to ensure societal cohesion and stability.
Latency: This deals with with the maintenance of society over time- socialisation, preserving and transmitting values of society. This means institutions such as schools, family which mediate values between younger and older generation
If these for things are met then social equilibrium will occur
Robert Merton (1910-2003)
-Dysfunctional functions:
-Merton criticised Parsons view that all social institutions play a positive functional role in society
-Merton argues some institutions can be DYSFUNCTIONAL, meaning they have a negative functional
-An example of this would be the family (domestic violence)
-Merton also recognises structural alternatives which means whilst certain social systems are needed to carry out functional needs of society they can be carried out by other social systems
Two types of functions: Latent and Manifest
-Merton argues Parsons also failed to distinguish between the manifest functions of institutions which are intended, and the latent function of social systems which are the unintended consequences of these functions.
-For example, Hopi Indians perform a rain dance in times of drought which is intended function. However, the ritual may also have a latent (unintended) function such as promoting a sense of solidarity in times of hardship
Examples of functional and dysfunctional parts
-Elements of society are functional if they contribute to social stability and dysfunctional if they disrupt social stability.
-Some aspects of society can be both functional and dysfunctional.
-For example, crime is dysfunctional in that it is associated with physical violence, loss of property and fear. But according to Durkheim and other functionalists, crime is also functional for society because it leads to heightened awareness of shared moral bonds and increases social cohesion.
Evaluation of functionalism
Strengths:
-Contributes to understanding of society
-Empirical evidence
Weaknesses:
-Teleological theory- Cause becomes before effect
-Conflict theories- largely ignores problems such as inequality etc
-Too deterministic
-Unscientific
-Outdated theory- so many cultures in Britain these days
