Functionalism

Question 1

What are Functionalists?

Answer 1

Functionalists are consensus theorists, but they are also structural theorists, as they believe there is a social structure that shapes individual behaviour through the process of socialisation.

Question 2

What do Functionalists believe?

Answer 2

Functionalists believe that society functions much like the body, it is an organic system that is self-maintained and self-supporting, and helps in maintaining other aspects of society.

In a healthy society, social life needs to be organised so that the family socialises the young, giving them the opportunity to be successful, functioning members of society (primary socialisation).

Question 3

Durkheim’s 2 Key Principles

Answer 3

1) Society shapes the individual

2) Social solidarity socialisation and anomie

Question 4

Society Shapes the Individual

Answer 4

Humans have a high level of autonomy, but they are highly restrained by the social construct of society.

A social construct refers to an idea that has been created and accepted by people in society.

Question 5

Social Facts…

Answer 5

Social facts include:
> Values
> Cultural norms
> Social structures

Question 6

Anomie

Answer 6

Anomie is a state of normlessness (lack of social cohesion).

Durkheim believed that this was caused when people have too much freedom. This freedom results in people having feelings of uncertainty, fear, and a lack of morality.

Question 7

Can anomie be prevented?

Answer 7

Durkheim believed the best way to prevent anomie was through social solidarity. For individuals, feeling a sense of belonging to wider society is important.

Social solidarity was originally achieved through religion, but as society became more secular, Durkheim worried that modern societies faced a ‘crisis of anomie’.

Question 8

Socialisation

Answer 8

Social solidarity is taught through the process of socialisation - agents of socialisation include the family, the education system, and the media.

Socialisation is the process of learning the norms and values associated with the individual’s society.

Question 9

Organic Analogy

Answer 9

Functionalists see society working in a similar pattern to the body - key social institutions act as an organ in the body, and if one institution fails, other sections of society risk failing.