Functionalism Flashcards
What is the functionalist theory?
macro, structural consensus theory
- top down approach
Top Down approach
society shapes the individual
What concepts did Durkheim come up with?
- equilibrium
- mechanical solidarity
- organic solidarity
- anomie
What is equilibrium?
subsystems adapt to retain balance
What is mechanical solidarity?
- everyone has the same job/work
- easier to replace
- very little division
- traditional= collective conscience
What is organic solidarity?
- specialised roles- harder to replace
- people become interdependent
- modern = weak social solidarity
What is anomie?
the break down of norms and values = normlessness
What were Parsons 6 structural functions?
1) The human body analogy
2) Value consensus
3) Integration
4) The social system
5) The AGIL scheme
6) Social change
PARSONS
1) Human body analogy
System- body/institutions
System needs- nutrition/socialisation
Functions- vital functions to perform in order to survive/ don’t work becomes dysfunctional
PARSONS
2) Value consensus
- created through socialisation
- maintained through social control
Formal SC- police, gov, courts
Informal SC- family, media, religion, school
PARSONS
3) Integration
- feel part of a wider society- social solidarity is achieved
- behaviour becomes predictable and stale which allows for social order
PARSONS
4) The social system
STATUS/ROLE CLUSTER
- human actions governed by their status- role association
INSTITUTIONS
- status/role part of this- T&S= education
SUBSYSTEMS
- institutions part of larger groups- shops, businesses part of economy
SOCIAL SYSTEM
- all of these things make up our society
PARSONS
5) The AGIL scheme
- functional prerequisites
INSTRUMENTAL
Adaptation- prove members of society with material needs- family, economy
Goal attainment- shared goals to achieve- gov, education
EXPRESSIVE
Integration- cohesion- MR ELF
Latency (pattern maintenance) - pass on values and norms- family, media, religion
What does the instrumental needs of society mean?
focused on emotion and including people
What does the expressive needs of society mean?
focused on practical needs and the basis of providing
PARSONS
6) Social change
Traditional
- ascription, diffuseness, particularism, affectivity, collective orientation
Modern
- achievement, specificity, universalism, effective neutrality, self-orientation
What is ascription?
Status is ascribed, determined by the type of family you are born into
What is diffuseness?
People enter relationships with others to satisfy a large range of needs
e.g. mother and child
What is particularism?
Individuals act differently towards particular people
e.g. loyal to family but not to strangers
What is affectivity?
Gratification is immediate, people act to gratify their desires as soon as possible.
What is collective orientation?
Put the interest of their social groups to which they belong before their own interests.
What is achievement?
Status is achieved through a persons own efforts- hard work
What is specificity?
People enter into relationships with others to satisfy particular needs
- customer and shopkeeper
What is universalism?
Individuals act according to universal principles
- everyone is equal before the law
- policewoman would arrest her husband if necessary
What is effective neutrality?
Gratification is deferred
- saving money to put a deposit for a house in the future
What is self-orientation?
People pursue their own interests first, rather than those of the social group they belong to
Why does Parsons believe evolutionary social change must be gradual?
Just like an organism that evolves to suit its environment, society must gradually evolve.
- he believes this happened through the process of structural differentiation.
What does Parsons mean by structural differentiation?
Traditional societies- institutions perform a range of functions
- family= economic, education, emotional support, healthcare
Modern industrial societies- functions become specialised and are performed by specialist institutions
- healthcare performed by NHS
What were 3 concepts created by Merton?
1) functional unity
2) universal functionalism
3) indispensability
What is functional unity?
organic analogy- all works together to function as a whole
What is universal functionalism?
cannot assume that all social systems fulfil a positive function
What is indispensability?
- cannot go without it
- exist by necessity
What did Merton say manifest functions were?
- intended and known consequences of one part of the social system
- rain dance to encourage rain in times of drought
What did Merton say Latent functions were?
- the unintended consequences of one part of a social system
- rain dance creates social solidarity in times of drought
External criticisms of Functionalism
1) logical criticisms
2) conflict perspective criticism
3) action perspective criticisms
4) postmodernist criticisms
What are the logical criticisms of functionalism?
- argue functionalism is teleological
- things exist because of their effect or function
- argue a real explanation is one that identifies a cause
- family before socialisation?
What are the conflict perspective criticisms of functionalism?
- criticise its inability to explain conflict and change- organic analogy
Marxist- argue society is not harmonious- exploitation and division - see it as conservative ideology
- legitimises privileged and powerful
What are the action perspective criticisms?
- over socialised deterministic view
- perform prescribed roles- puppets
- no free will or choice
- refries society- treats it as distinct and above individuals
What are the post modernist criticisms of functionalism?
- assumes society is stable and orderly
- doesn’t account for diversity and instability
- metanarrative- ‘big story’
- attempts to create model of working society as a whole
- overall theory is no longer possible
- todays society is increasingly fragmented
