functionalism Flashcards
what is functionalism?
it is a structural theory which argues that society plays a powerful role in shaping the individual
what social changes were functionalists interested in?
- urbanisation
- industrialisation
- emergence of the state
what is an anomie?
people who are not sufficiently integrated into society and as a result experience normlessness (criminals etc)
what is collective conscience?
sharing ideas about what is right and wrong and being aware of this (grieving with other members of public)
what is social solidarity?
a sense of being part of a wider society
what is consensus view?
the idea that society has an overall positive effect on an individual and wider social groups
why are some functionalist views not relevant today?
their views were mainly based on people of similar ethnic backgrounds. however, the uk now is very diverse so there are a lot of different cultural backgrounds. therefore it is more difficult to agree on common values and religious beliefs.
who are the two key functionalists?
- emile durkheim (also a positivist)
- talcott parsons
what assumptions did durkheim make about people in general?
that they are selfish and have to be encouraged to think of the wider society. if they didn’t, society would break down
what is collective conscience?
shared set of ideas needed to keep society togethe
give some examples of social disorder.
- riots
- poverty
- war
what happens if people are not fully integrated into society?
anomie and disorder
what is the organic analogy (parsons)?
an analogy of the similarities between the human body and society. the organs within the body are like institutions in society. if one part of the body fails, then the rest will fail too (interdependent).
give examples of institutions in society (organic analogy).
- family
- education
- law
- religion
what is parsons theory of structural differentiation?
that specialised industries like the NHS are replacing familial healthcare. this is making society more complex
