Functionalism Flashcards
What is a consensus theory?
A consensus theory sees society as a functional unit where everyone is in agreement and agrees on the norms and values people should live by
- eg socialisation is a key process in making the consensus theory work
Core beliefs on functionalists ??
- we are a consensus theory = we are all in agreement about society
- only focus on positive things
- the institutions (hold society together) are the building blocks of society and they maintain the consensus and so keep society stable and shape society
- institutions help to maintain a value consensus in society = means we can all have shared and collective belief system of norms and values
- so mean society can work in harmony and avoids conflict
- deterministic
What is the organic analogy??
- society is just like the human body and the institutions are like the organs of the body
- each part has a specific function and they work together to keep society healthy
- if one fails the rest fails
Society will become ill and destabilise
Negatives of functionalism??
- ignore the dark side of society
- this makes them ‘rose tinted,
- too deterministic = assumes we are entirely shaped by society but we have some free will
- outdated = parsons was describing a society in the 1950s so does it apply to contemporary society?
What do functionalists believe about the organ of the family?
They believe the fact,ily is the heart of society meaning it is the most important and vital institution
Murdock overview and example quote
Family is so vital in keeping a smooth stable society it is found in some form in every society (250 societies) so it is universal
-‘one or more children’
Functions of the nuclear family: sexual
- stable satisfaction of the sex drive
- sexual relationships between men and women within marriage = control and regulate sexual urges, relaxed
- promotes Heterosexuality and reproduction of next generation
- socialists on prepares children for adult life
- sex with same person prevents sexual free for all and ensures monogamy
- keeps man calm
- prevents adultery chesting insect
Functions of the nuclear family: education
- socialising youth= norms and values
- get along with others
- become fully functioning human beings and integrate into society
- healthy relationships
- skills and qualification for jobs and benefit economy
- contribute to harmonious functioning society
- makes sure value consensus is passed down
- gender norms and values
Functions of the nuclear family: reproduction
- next generation
- having children is a sign of commitment so stabilises and strengthens marriage
- gender role socialisation = prepares children for stable heteronorm relationship so more people reproduce in the future
- without reproduction society could stagnate and strain older members of society
- physical survival of society
Functions of the nuclear family: economic
- provides economic support for family
- father provides and works for families basic needs= earned through labour as nobody else has to provide
- women are domestic role that meet economic needs as they often Tod unpaid labour at home
- society benefits from the economic contribution made by families
- teaches children skills needed when old enough to work
Quick critiques of four functions
Sexual = homosexuality is more approved and having more than one sexual partner is normalised and didn’t lead to a sexual free for all Economic = now have welfare state food banks for economic support Education= media eg CBeebies nursery pre school can all socialise children Reproductive = ivf sperm donor rise in socially approved ‘childlessness’
What did parsons think about the family
1955
- he said the family exists to benefit society and the functions of the family must change to fit the meets of society at the time
- society changes = functions of the family must change
What is the pre industrial family
It is a large extended family to work on the farms industry so the parents children and grandparents
- needed people to look after children and sick as there were no schools or healthcare
- the family were producers so made goods
What is the industrial society
This is the geographically mobile close small family unit they was able to move around so it’d easy to compete for work In factories
- the family became consumers - bought goods
What did parson says the two essential irreducible functions were
Agent of primary socialisation and socialisation of adult personalities
