4. Intro and Consensus Theory: Functionalism

Question 1

consensus vs conflict

Answer 1

how social order is maintained and how people manage to live together with some degree of harmony and stability despite differences

Question 2

Problem of determinism and choice?

Answer 2

if behaviour is moulded by society not free will and choice, how much freedom do they have and does this mean their identities are moulded by social forces outside social control

Question 3

What is structuralism

Answer 3

the overall structure of society and the way institutions limit, and control individual behaviours
we are puppets on strings, shaped and controlled by society we live in

Question 4

What are two structuralist theories

Answer 4

Functionalism and Marxism

Question 5

Positivism

Answer 5

only evidence that can be scientifically verified of capable of logical or mathematical proof os valid

Question 6

before the enlightenment?

Answer 6

Catholicism was all powerful
Life Influenced by religion and God
Devine right of kings in power

Question 7

After enlightenment

Answer 7

newton proved mathematical laws and discovered motion of planets
desire to explain with science grew
humans notions were survival & pleasure not good and bad

Question 8

Functionalism - a structural theory

Answer 8

sees society as system that shapes individuals

Question 9

Functionalism - a consensus theory

Answer 9

seeing society as shaped by agreement about values goals and rules

Question 10

Functionalism main aim?

Answer 10

Society can be improved through the discovery of social functions

Question 11

Who are key Functionalism theorists

Answer 11

Durkheim
Refined by Parsons 1902-1979
Merton 1910-2004

Question 12

In the 1950s and 60s, society was…

Answer 12

Society is a stable, harmonious integrated social system with social order and cohesion maintained by fundamental value consensus

Question 13

How is society seen as a system

Answer 13

The organic analogy - parsons

Question 14

What is the organic analogy system?

Answer 14

society and body are both self-regulating systems of inter-related, interdependent parts that fit together in a fixed way. All different institutions and organs are the same

Question 15

What are the organic analogy system needs?

Answer 15

organisms need nutrition. society has basic needs tat must be met, such as being socialised.
If not everyone would argue and fight everyone and then ultimately no one would win

Question 16

What are the organic analogy functions?

Answer 16

every part contributes to the system to keep it alive and ensure survival
the economy funds society and allows for social mobility to happen

Question 17

What are the systems in society

Answer 17

Norms are called status roles
e.g. positions that exist in society, how the occupants carry out their duties
Status roles come in clusters
e.g. institutions, families exist with mum, dad, etc.
Related institutions are grouped into sub-systems.

Question 18

What are societies prerequisites

Answer 18

institutions exist to satisfy basic needs and must work together
malfunction alerts us when something is wrong

Question 19

What does Parsons suggest about society

Answer 19

If society is healthy, we must solve instrumental and expressive problems thus satisfying the prerequisites met by sub systems
GAIL Model

Question 20

Instrumental Problems

Answer 20

providing materials needs for survival
Goals Attainment
Adaptation

Question 21

Expressive Problems

Answer 21

maintaining an efficient cooperation and a sense of social solidarity
Integration
Latency

Question 22

Goal Attainment

Answer 22

setting collective goals, priorities and allocating resource to solve them
political

Question 23

Adaptation

Answer 23

Adapting to the environment to provide materials necessary
Economic

Question 24

Integration

Answer 24

Co-ordinating all parts of the system through socialisation and ensuring everyone has shared goals
Cultural

Question 25

Latency

Answer 25

process which maintain society overtime Kinship provides pattern maintenance -socialises individuals to perform roles required Tensions management -place to let off steam after the stress of work Family

Question 26

What are the three concepts

Answer 26

1. Value consensus and social order 2. Sanctions and social order 3. Socialisation and social order

Question 27

Establishment and maintenance of social order

Answer 27

Durkheim 1982 value consensus and social integration learn common values

Question 28

What is value and consensus order

Answer 28

institutions generally promote value consensus an important function of social institutions commitment to common values is basis for order belief in work ethic and meritocracy work ethic- work hard no laziness meritocracy- hard work should be rewarded

Question 29

How do we integrate individuals together

Answer 29

value consensus is about making social order possible as peoples needs need to be met to achieve this we must apply specific rules or norms and use specific tools to do so

Question 30

How do we help society be integrated

Answer 30

Sanctions and Social Order Socialisation and Social Order

Question 31

What are sanctions and social order

Answer 31

formal sanctions - detentions, in trouble with police informal sanctions - dirty looks, no second date understand whether behaviour is correct and accepted within society

Question 32

What is Socialisation and social order

Answer 32

Family is responsible for passing basic norms and values of society, early levels Education integrates individuals into wider society, a sense of belonging Other institutions regulate behaviour through social sanctions- prevent crime and deviance

Question 33

What is social change

Answer 33

When new functions emerge or society needs to adapt

Question 34

How does social change happen

Answer 34

a change in one part results in a change elsewhere so the system remains balanced Parsons calls this structural differentiation He also uses social evolution from simple hunters to advanced industrial

Question 35

Structural differentiation

Answer 35

society evolves as new needs arise for both society and individuals means instituions become more specialised separate, functionally specialised institutions develop, each meeting a different need.

Question 36

Why is more complex society better

Answer 36

more adaptive, more innovative and able to harness talents of wider ranges of individuals

Question 37

How can social change happen

Answer 37

social differentiation moving/dynamic equilibrium

Question 38

What is moving equilibrium

Answer 38

as change occurs in one part of the system, change happens else where to compensate rise of industry brings changes to nuclear families

Question 39

What was Merton's critique of Functionalism -internal critique

Answer 39

Indispensability Functional Unity Universal Functionalism

Question 40

What is Indespensability

Answer 40

he assumed everything in society is indispensable in its current form untested and may have functional alternatives

Question 41

Why could nuclear families come under the functional alternatives category

Answer 41

Families in England are so different, so many different types of family unit Not just 2 parents 2 kids nowadays

Question 42

What is Functional unity

Answer 42

assumes all parts of society are tightly integrated a change has knock on consequences to all systems in complex modern society, some parts are only distantly related to each other instead it should be functional autonomy

Question 43

What is Universal Functionalism

Answer 43

assumes everything is a positive function for society as a whole disregards positives for some and negatives for others dysfunction is neglected by functionalists, it suggest conflict of interests idea is basis of conflict perspectives

Question 44

What is Merton's main criticism of Parsons

Answer 44

we cannot assume society is always a smooth running and integrated system

Question 45

Dysfunction

Answer 45

Some parts of the social structure dont work as intended with negative consequences and effects Things do go wrong in society Dysfunction happens more often than not New technology helps some but ruins others All parts of the social system affected

Question 46

Manifest functions

Answer 46

Merton suggested manifest -the intended recognised outcome or action of an institution

Question 47

Latent Functions

Answer 47

Merton then suggested latent functions -unintended and unrecognised consequences

Question 48

External evaluation strengths

Answer 48

produce general evaluation on societal workings importance of social structures constraints behaviour and links explains social order and stability hence conformance

Question 49

External evaluation logical criticism

Answer 49

real explanation identifies its cause logic before effect functionalists see family causes socialisation unscientific too deviance is functional and dysfunctional

Question 50

External Evaluation action perspective criticism

Answer 50

Wrong 1961 sees deterministic functionalist perspec see people as puppets on strings theorist state individuals create society due to interaction reifies society taking notice to society needs not individual society cannot exist on its own though

Question 51

External evaluation postmodernist criticism

Answer 51

functionalism assumes society is stable and ordered cannot account for diversity and instability met-narrative society is not whole, but fragmented

Question 52

External evaluation conflict criticism

Answer 52

inability to explain conflict and change society is meant to be harmony, conservative ideology based on exploitation and unequal interest (Marxism) stability is result of dominant class preventing change through coercion false consciousness- no shared view