FUNCTIONALISM

Answer 1

Functionalism is a STRUCTURAL PERSPECTIVE that views SOCIAL ORDER as based on VALUE CONSENSUS. PARSONS believes society is a SYSTERM of independent parts, in which the FUNCTION of each part is to help MEET THE NEEDS of the system. Individuals are INTEGRATED into the system through SOCIALISATION and SOCIAL CONTROL, preventing ANOMIE.

Question 2

ORGANIC ANALOGY
(PARSONS)

Answer 2

PARSON identifies THREE SIMILARITIES between SOCIETY and BIOLOGICAL ORGANISM.

SYSTEM
both self-regulating system of interrelated parts that fit together in fixed ways. In the body, these are cells whereas in society these are institutions (education system, government etc).
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SYSTEM NEEDS
organisms have needs (eg. nutrition), if these needs are not met, the organism will die. Functionalists see the social system as having basic needs (Eg. adequate socialisation) to maintain social order and survive.

FUNCTIONS
the function for any system is based on the contribution it makes to meeting the system needs, which ensures its survival.

Question 3

THREE MAIN CRITICIAMS OF PARSONS
(MERTON)

Answer 3

INDESPENSABILITY:
NOT all social institutions are
FUNCTIONALLY INDESPENSABLE and that there are FUNCTIONAL ALTERNATIVES eg
the FAMILY are NOT the only
INSTITUTION that PERFORMS PRIMARY SOCIALISATION.

FUNCTIONAL UNITY:
NOT all SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS are as TIGHTLY LINKED as
PARSON suggests. SOME INSTITUATIONS are quite FAR REMOVED FROM EACH OTHER eg RULES OF BANKING and EDUCATION.

UNIVERSAL FUNCTIONALISM:
NOT all the
INSTITUTIONS of society PERFORM a POSITIVE FUNCTION for society, for SOME, THINGS are
dysfunctional eg
DONESTIC ABUSE makes the FAMILY DYSFUNCTIONAL for its members.

Question 4

DURKHEIM

Question 5

TWO means of MAINTAINING VALUE CONSENSUS + SOCIAL ORDER

Answer 5

FORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL: POLICE, CJS,ARMY

INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL: FAMILY, PEERS

Question 6

FOUR BASIC NEEDS OF SOCIETY:

1. GOAL ATTAINMENT
2. ADAPTATION
3. INTEGRATION
4. LATENCY

Answer 6

GOAL ATTAINMENT (Political Function) – society sets GOALS and ALLOCATE RESOURCES to ACHIEVE THEM: PARLIAMENT

ADAPTATION (Economic Function) – social system meets its MEMBERS’ MATERIAL needs through ECONOMIC SUB-SYSTEMS.

INTEGRATION (Social Harmony) – DIFFERENT parts of the system must be integrated together to PURSUE SHARED GOALS, role of EDUCATION

LATENCY: processes that MAINTAIN SOCIETY OVER TIME, PATTERN MAINTENANCE (socialising people into roles society requires) and TENSION MANAGEMENT (place to ‘let off steam’)