Functionalism Flashcards
What do Functionalists argue society works like? (2)
Society works like system which is a set of interconnected things working together.
This ties in with the concept of organic analogy which means that within systems there are institutions that sustain society. Each system has a role to play and the system has specific needs for it to actually work.
How does lockdown measures link with organic analogy?
There were legal changes like lockdown to stop the spread of the disease and if you broke the rules you would be fined.
There were social bubbles, online learning and furlough schemes put in place so society didn’t collapse.
Why was Functionalism useful?
It is useful because it shows how systems work together to maintain the status quo, in order to make society is stable and we don’t become anomie.
This is also to keep equilibrium.
What did Parsons argue that society has?
Society also has its own needs and functional prerequisites.
Functional prerequisites = basic needs that msut be met if society is to survive in a healthy state. They are important for the survival and maintenance of society.
What are the four prerequisites that society needs to meet?
Goal attainment
Adaption
Integration
Latency
What is goal attainment and what sub-system does it meet?
Society needs to define and set goals, and provide the means of achieving them in order to make society better.
It meets the political function like government and parliament.
What is adaption and what sub-system does it meet?
Society needs to meet its members material needs so that people can physically survive (food, clothing)
It meets the economic function like factories and shops.
What is integration and what sub-system does it meet?
Society needs to socialise people into shared goals, values and restrict any threats to social order to prevent anomie.
This meets the cultural/social function like education and religion.
What is latency and what sub-system does it meet?
Society needs to minimise tensions and interpersonal conflicts to help individuals integrate and play their party in society.
It meets the psychological and emotional function like the family.
What does Durkheim show in his study of society?
He highlighted the importance of integration which is the extent to which individuals feel they are a meaningful part of society.
If people are not integrated anomie will occur which is why Durkheim emphasises the importance of collective conscience in creating social solidarity.
Why is Durkheim’s study of suicide a good synoptic link?
It shows that when you lack the social solidarity and collective conscience by lack of integration and moral regulation it leads to people feeling dis-engaged from society creating anomie. This would ultimately lead to suicide.
E.G: Catholics are less likely as more integrated due to religion than protestant.
What do Functionalists do that conflict theorists dont? (2)
They contribute to our understanding of how social institutions fulfill positive functions for individuals and society.
These values help to maintain a value consensus which contributes to social order.
How does the education system fulfill positive functions?
It maintains secondary socialisation by developing social order and value consenus, creating specialist skills amd knowledge.
Meritocracy and role allocation.
Why is the Functionalist theory useful? (3)
It showcases how society functions as a whole and it works as a system of interconnected institutions.
It showcases the importance of integration to prevent disorder, so we can maintain the collective conscience in a harmonious society.
Social institutions work to fulfill positive functions maintaining social order and implimenting value consensus. (Deviance as starting point for change)
What else does Parsons use to explain why societies change from one to another?
Structural differentiation. This is where modern industrial societites develop new and more efficient specialist institions rather than two key institutions like the family and religion.
