Functionalism

Question 1

what does durkheim say about society

Answer 1

• to maintain equilibrium must be norms + values to limit our actions
• society functions to value consensus
• if value consensus breaks down then anomie= decline in norms + values

Question 2

what does an equilibrium mean for society

Answer 2

that each subsystem will adjust to any change in other subsystems + continue to do so until balance

Question 3

what does organic/human body analogy mean?

Answer 3

• society works like human body
• society has vital institutions like body has vital organs
• institutions work interdependently

Question 4

evaluation of organic analogy

Answer 4

• not all institutions work effectively like decline in religion so media has to take larger role to balance equilibrium

Question 5

what is parsons 3 systems?

Answer 5

1. cultural- core values + shared history that make society distinct
2. social- institutionalised expectations in roles eg teacher/student. MOST IMPORT as must have specific needs met(functional prerequisites)
3. personality- persons personal beliefs, goals, internalised values

Question 6

evaluation of parsons 3 systems

Answer 6

oversocalised view of individuals as assumes everybody has same norms + values- little room for individuality

Question 7

what is parsons functional prerequisites?

Answer 7

society to function= 4 preretirements
1. goal attainment (shared goals to strive for) uses economy
2. pattern maintenance ( way to teach new gen values + norms) uses fam + ed system
3. adaptation (use our environment to meet our needs, evolution of institutes) uses economy
4. integration (make people feel loyal) uses legal system

Question 8

evaluation of parsons functional prerequisites

Answer 8

deterministic- claims that agencies of socialisation are able to construct values + beliefs rather than free will

Question 9

what is parsons pattern variables ?

Answer 9

maintains value consensus
preindustrial:
- ascription, diffuseness, particularism, affectivity, collective orientation
industrial:
- achievement, specificity, universalism, effective neutrality, self orientation

Question 10

evaluation of parsons pattern variables?

Answer 10

• oversocalised view, we dont all share same values subcultures have diff values
• marxist believe values only benefit ruling class

Question 11

what does merton believe about society?

Answer 11

• softer form of functionalism
• contribution to social system may be positive, negative, non-existent = universal functional
• functional unity- society should be empirically investigated
• indispensability- same functional needs met by diff institutions
• manifest functions (intended)
• latent functions (unintended)

Question 12

evaluation of merton

Answer 12

teleology- doesn’t explain original cause of phenominon (where norms + values originally come from) also fails to explain true purpose of norms + values