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Sociology p1&3 Theory and Methods > Functionalism > Flashcards

Functionalism Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is the functionalist theory?

A

macro, structural consensus theory
- top down approach

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2
Q

Top Down approach

A

society shapes the individual

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3
Q

What concepts did Durkheim come up with?

A
  • equilibrium
  • mechanical solidarity
  • organic solidarity
  • anomie
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4
Q

What is equilibrium?

A

subsystems adapt to retain balance

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5
Q

What is mechanical solidarity?

A
  • everyone has the same job/work
  • easier to replace
  • very little division
  • traditional= collective conscience
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6
Q

What is organic solidarity?

A
  • specialised roles- harder to replace
  • people become interdependent
  • modern = weak social solidarity
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7
Q

What is anomie?

A

the break down of norms and values = normlessness

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8
Q

What were Parsons 6 structural functions?

A

1) The human body analogy
2) Value consensus
3) Integration
4) The social system
5) The AGIL scheme
6) Social change

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9
Q

PARSONS
1) Human body analogy

A

System- body/institutions
System needs- nutrition/socialisation
Functions- vital functions to perform in order to survive/ don’t work becomes dysfunctional

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10
Q

PARSONS
2) Value consensus

A
  • created through socialisation
  • maintained through social control
    Formal SC- police, gov, courts
    Informal SC- family, media, religion, school
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11
Q

PARSONS
3) Integration

A
  • feel part of a wider society- social solidarity is achieved
  • behaviour becomes predictable and stale which allows for social order
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12
Q

PARSONS
4) The social system

A

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

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13
Q

PARSONS
5) The AGIL scheme
- functional prerequisites

A

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

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14
Q

What does the instrumental needs of society mean?

A

focused on emotion and including people

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15
Q

What does the expressive needs of society mean?

A

focused on practical needs and the basis of providing

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16
Q

PARSONS
6) Social change

A

Traditional
- ascription, diffuseness, particularism, affectivity, collective orientation
Modern
- achievement, specificity, universalism, effective neutrality, self-orientation

17
Q

What is ascription?

A

Status is ascribed, determined by the type of family you are born into

18
Q

What is diffuseness?

A

People enter relationships with others to satisfy a large range of needs
e.g. mother and child

19
Q

What is particularism?

A

Individuals act differently towards particular people
e.g. loyal to family but not to strangers

20
Q

What is affectivity?

A

Gratification is immediate, people act to gratify their desires as soon as possible.

21
Q

What is collective orientation?

A

Put the interest of their social groups to which they belong before their own interests.

22
Q

What is achievement?

A

Status is achieved through a persons own efforts- hard work

23
Q

What is specificity?

A

People enter into relationships with others to satisfy particular needs
- customer and shopkeeper

24
Q

What is universalism?

A

Individuals act according to universal principles
- everyone is equal before the law
- policewoman would arrest her husband if necessary

25
Q

What is effective neutrality?

A

Gratification is deferred
- saving money to put a deposit for a house in the future

26
Q

What is self-orientation?

A

People pursue their own interests first, rather than those of the social group they belong to

27
Q

Why does Parsons believe evolutionary social change must be gradual?

A

Just like an organism that evolves to suit its environment, society must gradually evolve.
- he believes this happened through the process of structural differentiation.

28
Q

What does Parsons mean by structural differentiation?

A

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

29
Q

What were 3 concepts created by Merton?

A

1) functional unity
2) universal functionalism
3) indispensability

30
Q

What is functional unity?

A

organic analogy- all works together to function as a whole

31
Q

What is universal functionalism?

A

cannot assume that all social systems fulfil a positive function

32
Q

What is indispensability?

A
  • cannot go without it
  • exist by necessity
33
Q

What did Merton say manifest functions were?

A
  • intended and known consequences of one part of the social system
  • rain dance to encourage rain in times of drought
34
Q

What did Merton say Latent functions were?

A
  • the unintended consequences of one part of a social system
  • rain dance creates social solidarity in times of drought
35
Q

External criticisms of Functionalism

A

1) logical criticisms
2) conflict perspective criticism
3) action perspective criticisms
4) postmodernist criticisms

36
Q

What are the logical criticisms of functionalism?

A
  • 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?
37
Q

What are the conflict perspective criticisms of functionalism?

A
  • 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
38
Q

What are the action perspective criticisms?

A
  • over socialised deterministic view
  • perform prescribed roles- puppets
  • no free will or choice
  • refries society- treats it as distinct and above individuals
39
Q

What are the post modernist criticisms of functionalism?

A
  • 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

Sociology p1&3 Theory and Methods (5 decks)

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