Functionalism

Question 1

What are some key concepts of the functionalist theory ?

Answer 1

• Collective conscious -
• Value consensus - the agreement of right and wrong in society
• Organic analogy - the idea that society has parts like the human body
• Socialisation - the process whereby we learn how to be apart of the social system in society
• Functional pre requists - The basic needs required for society to function
• Interdependent - the way that different parts of the society rely on each other
• Agencies of socialisation - the parts of society that are responsible for socialisation such as religion , family , education etc

Question 2

What are Durkheim’s key ideas ?

Answer 2

• Durkheim’s key ideas include
• the idea of social facts that contributes to his structural approach to understanding human nature and ..
• The idea the in order for society to function there needs to be social solidarity , this idea of shared values and norms that create social harmony and cohesion that maintain social order

Question 3

What is anomie ?

Answer 3

• Anomie is a state of chaos eg London riots 2011 , Covid 19 marches , anti vaxx movement , Brexit and the tensions created , Sharia law

Question 4

What is the Gail model ? and who argues that this is needed in order for there to be a healthy society

Answer 4

• Parson argued that in order for society to survive there has to be four functions of pre requists met .
• Goal attainment - the idea that society needs to have shared goals eg - the aims for success ad wealth
• Adaption - Society needs to be adapt to the resources available for example in the industrialisation period where we ha to adapt and this gave us geographical mobility , Brexit , Covid-19 online teaching etc
• Integration - The idea that we need to be socialised into shared norms and values , this is done through institutions such as religion , the family , education etc
• ## Latency , the idea that in society there needs to be places to relieve stress , links to parsons warm bath theory and the stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 5

Evaluate the gail model . Is it applicable in todays society or universally ?

Answer 5

• Well in it is applicable in todays society because we do have a sense of shared norms and values but no longer generalisable as we are becoming more diverse
• Not applicable universally because we are becoming fragmented eg Durkheim’s idea of social solidarity and shared norms

Question 6

What is the functionalist view on social change. is it slow and evolutionary or revolutionary ?

Answer 6

• Functionalist view social change as an evolutionary process where gradual shifts can occur this allows individuals to adapt
• however Marxists would argue that revolutionary change is the best way for change to be done

Question 7

What is structural diffrentaionation

Answer 7

• Structural diffrenation is the specialisation of institutions example the family is no longer reasonable for all functions such as education , health care etc this has been taken over by education

Question 8

Whos ideas did parsons view develop from?

Answer 8

• Durkheim’s work in the 1950s. parsons takes the view coming back together aft the second war

Question 9

Who is Merton and what are his ideas ?

Answer 9

Merton is a functionalist who criticises parsons and states that although social institutions are beneficial it is also dysfunctional
- He suggests that institutions have a manifest function which is a postive function that helps society and a negative function called latent functions which can often be negative example the familys function of socialisation but have a latent function of abuse and neglect

Question 10

What are some postive and negative views on mertons ideas ?

Answer 10

• Postive because it criticises functionalism for being too idealistic and takes a more realistic approach on society
• Negative - marxists would criticise stating that he doe not see anything fundamentally wrong

Question 11

Evaluate functionalism

Answer 11

• Durkheim arugues that consensus is vital for society to survive and this is useful because it demonstrates how important agreement is in society specifically for thing such as following the law. however it ignores the growing diversity of beliefs and behaviour in todays society
• Parsons argues that social change needs to be slow and evolutionary because it prevents conflict and allows change to be slow, however marxists would criticise stating that the only real way to achieve change is from revolutionary means
• Merton argues that even tho institutions have positive function (manifest FUNCTIONS ) they can also be dysfunctional . This is useful because its realistic

Question 12

Where did Durkeheims functionlaist ideas come from ?

Answer 12

• Social facts, this is because he treated sociology like a science
• ## he argues that social facts shape behaviour which was reinforced in his study of Le suicide

Question 13

Why would some interprevistis and social action theorists criticise Durkheim’s approach

Answer 13

• They would criticise his use of postivits methods because he fails to look at the individual
• Doesn’t achieve verstehen

Question 14

What are some key concepts of Functionalists ?

Answer 14

• Collective consciences
• Value consensus
• functional pre - requists
• organic analogy