Functionalism Flashcards
Key features of the functionalist view of society:
Macro -> Try to outline all of society.
Structural -> Society’s structure shapes individuals.
Consensus -> Everyone shares norms and values.
Modernist -> Possible to know and improve society.
Parsons (Organic analogy)
Comparing the human body to society.
Parson’s three similarities between society and a biological organism:
System -> both are self-regulating systems of interrelated, independent party that fit together in fixed ways.
System needs -> both have needs that must be met in order for the system to survive.
Functions -> the function of any part of the whole is what it does to help the whole.
Parsons on Social Order
Social order is achieved through a shared culture -> value consensus (agreeing on shared norms & values)
Two mechanisms for ensuring that individuals conform to shared norms and meet the systems needs:
. Socialisation - teaching individuals norms and values.
. Social control - punishing deviance.
Durkheim (features of a traditional society)
Mechanical solidarity = all did the same thing so you think you have common ground with each other.
This is a simple division of labour
Durkheim (how is society different from traditional society?)
We now have a complex division of labour
Durkheim on anomie
Rapid social change which leads to anomie -> a sense of uncertainty or normlessness.
Durkheim view of society and social facts.
We need organic solidarity
Sui Generis society exists beyond us.
The parts of the social system:
Actions = what we do.
Norms = tell us what actions we should do.
Status-roles = clusters of norms, e.g. student, teacher.
Institutions = clusters of status roles, e.g. school.
Sub-systems = clusters of institutions, e.g. the education sub-system.
Parsons AGIL schema (the four basic system needs)
Adaptation = meeting economic needs.
Goal attainment = setting shared goals and allocating resources to achieve these goals.
Integration = integrating different parts of the system to work together. (This is the function of religion, the media and education).
Latency = maintaining society over time. Family perform pattern maintenance and tension management.
The norms of a modern society and traditional society.
Modern society = we pursue individual self-interest, achieve our status and are judged by universalistic standards.
Traditional society = we put collective interests first, our status is ascribed and we are judged by particularistic standards.
Merton’s 3 criticism’s of Parson’s:
INTERNAL
Indispensability = Assumes everything that exists need to exist in current form. But things could be done better, e.g. maybe same-sex families can socialise as well as nuclear families
Functional unity = Each part is integrated and every part is interdependent. Some parts may have autonomy from each other, e.g. banking and netball.
Universal functionalism = Each part is equally functional for every other part. Some parts may be functional for some groups and dysfunctional for others
Merton’s two types of function:
Manifest functions = Intended functions.
Latent functions = Unintended functions. E.g. Hopi Indians perform a rain dance. Its manifest function is to make it rain. This won’t work. However, it promotes social solidarity.
EXTERNAL critiques of functionalism (Logical Criticisms)
Teleology = the idea that something exists because of its function. E.g. families exist because they provide socialisation.
Functionalism is unscientific -> it doesn’t work because you can’t prove it.
