Functionalism Flashcards
What is functionalism
- Consensus theory
- Macro
- Structural
Who was the key functionalist thinker
Emile Durkheim
What do functionalists think makes society
Functionalists say that society is made up of institutions
What do functionalists believe are the most important societal needs
- Social order
- reproduction
- economic needs
- emotional support
What do functionalists believe is the need for social institutions
- socialise individuals to norms and values
- promote consensus
Why is functionalism a consensus theory
Functionalism is a consensus theory because it argues society needs value consensus to function
Why do functionalists believe inequality is necessary
As it allows low paying jobs to be filled
What are criticisms which could be made regarding functionalism
- ignores conflicts which exist e.g racism, sexism, crime
- assumes we are all passive and conform to society
- overemphasises that we all share the same value consensus, ignores individual views.
What was the analogy Durkheim created
The organic analogy
What is the organic analogy
- Compares each bodily function to societal functions to show what they have in common.
E.g body fights disease = police fighting crime
What do functionalists argue
They argue that each institution has a different function which operate to benefit society
What is a macro top-down theory?
- Looks at large scale social processes
- E.g social stability & change
- Emphasises how social structures & institutions influences individuals actions
What is a structural theory?
Analyses system by focusing on its underlying structure & relationship between its parts
