Functionalism Flashcards
Similarities between society and a biological organism - system
- Organisms such as the human body and society are both self regulating systems of inter-related interdependent parts that fit together in fixed ways
- In the body, these parts are organs
- In society, these are institutions such as education, family, religion
systems needs
Organisms have needs, such as nutrition - if these needs are not met, the organism will die
Social system has basic needs, members must be socialised if society is to continue
functions
The function of any part of a system is a contribution it makes to meeting the systems needs
The economy helps maintain the social system by meeting the need for food and shelter
How is social order achieved according to Parsons?
Achieved through the existence of a shared culture - norms, values, beliefs (a central value system)
Provides a framework that allows individuals to cooperate by laying down rules about how they should behave
How does socialisation ensure individuals conform to shared values and meet the systems needs?
Through the socialisation process, individuals internalise the systems norms and values so society becomes part of their personality structure
How does social control ensure individuals conform to shared values and meet the systems needs?
Positive sanctions reward conformity while negative ones punish deviance
Value systems stresses individual achievement through educational success while those who fail to conform are stigmatised
1st basic need of the social system
Adaptation - the social system meets its members’ material needs through the economic sub-system
2nd basic need of the social system
Goal attainment - Society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them
Function of the political sub-system through institutions such as Parliament
3rd basic need of the social system
Integration -The different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals
Role of the sub-system of religion, education & media
4th basic need of the social system - latency
Processes that maintain society over time
The kinship sub-system provides pattern maintenance
Parsons & Traditional society
Individuals are expected to put collective interest first, status is ascribed and they are judged by particularistic standards (such as different laws for nobles and commoners)
Parsons & Modern society
We pursue our individual self interest, achieve our status and are all judged by the same universalistic standards (such as equality before the law)
Mertons internal critique - Functional unity
Parsons assumes all parts of society are tightly integrated into a single while or ‘unity’ He assumes that change in one part will have a knock on effect on all the other parts
