functionalism Flashcards
macro-structural theory
focuses on needs of social system as a whole
consensus theory
society has a basic agreement amongst its members about values and rules
what do functionalist believe?
based on an assumption that society is a system and should be studied as a whole
what is Comte’s idea of organic analogy?
(system needs, system, functions)
believed there were similarities between society and how organs in the body had specific functions but work together to maintain health
system needs- organisms have needs and if they aren’t met it will die and functionalists see social system as having basic needs which must be met to survive
system- organisms and societies are both self regulating of independent parts that fit together
functions- functionalists see the function of any part of a system is the contribution it makes to meet needs to ensure survival
what is Parsons’ idea of social order?
this is achieved through existence of shared culture as it provides a framework which allows individual to cooperate by laying down the rules about how they should behave
what is integration of individuals?
value consensus makes social order possible by integrating people into social systems, directing them towards meeting the systems needs
what is socialisation?
social system can ensure needs are met by teaching individuals to want to do what it requires them to do; through socialisation processes, individuals internalise systems norms and values
what is social control?
positive sanctions reward conformity while negative ones punish deviance
what is Parsons’ ‘building block’ appraoch?
models social system because we all have individual actions which is governed by norms and values
what is adaptation?
social system meets its’ members material needs through economic subsystem
what is goal-attainment?
society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them
what is integration?
different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals
what is latency?
refers to the process that maintains society overtime
what are some criticisms of Parsons?
assumes everything in society is functionally indispensable in its existing form
assumes all parts of society are tightly integrated into single ‘whole’ or ‘unity’
assumes everything in society performs a positive role for society
what is manifest function?
is an aim to magically produce something and intend to do so (such as rain dances)
