Functionalism

Question 1

Explain Parson’s organic analogy

Answer 1

Society= human body social institutions interact same way as organs

System= Society + humans (interconnected parts)

System needs= organisms + society, needs to be met

Function= Organs function for the good of the whole so do social institutions

Question 2

Explain Parson’s value consensus, social order, and integration

Answer 2

Formal Social Control – Official groups enforce laws, (CJS and Police)

Informal Social Control – family + peers, keep us in line through punishment

Integration= Adjust, and regulate relationships within the system to keep it functioning

Value consensus= need societies to have a common set of beliefs/ principles to work with/ agree with

Question 3

Outline Parsons four system needs

Answer 3

Goal attainment= goals + decisions about how power and resources are allocated.

Adaption= – every society has to provide for the needs of its members for survival

Integration= specialist institutions develop to reduce conflict

Latency= consequences of actions

Question 4

Explain Merton’s internal critique of functionalism

Answer 4

Indispensability= not all social institutions are functionally indispensable and there are alternatives. (family not only institution primary socialising)

Functional unity= Not all institutions tightly linked, some far removed from each other (rules of banking + education)

Universal functionalism= Not all institutions perform a positive function, some are dysfunctional (domestic violence makes the family dysfunctional)

Question 5

Evaluate functionalism

Answer 5

contradicting/ unfalsifiable

Marxists= rose tinted view of society, positive functions, ignores dark side of family life

Action theory= deterministic society doesn’t shape individuals, individuals shape society,

Postmodernist= unable to explain diversity and instability in society