FUNCTIONALISM Flashcards
Define education and how much we learn
informally and formally
Education is the process of facilitating of learning or acquisition of knowledge, skills values, beliefs and habits (you Don’t really need to know the exact definition)
We learn 85% of our knowledge informally and 15% formally!
Define functionalism in sociology
◉ Functionalism is a consensus theory where they have a rose-tinted view of society, and It’s believed that everyone shares equal values, norms and beliefs. hence causing social stability. And order.
◉ In addition, functionalism is a macro theory which means it attempts to see how society functions as a whole opposed to one small part.
How does society and institutions run according to functionalist.
Hint:Think organic analogy.
In functionalism the institutions which build society are all under a valued consensus which means they rely heavily on interdependence this allows for a “Organic Analogy” to take place where if one institution is to fail similar to a organ system or domino effect the rest will come down too.
Who are the 4 Key functionalist we learn in sociology?
(At least their surnames..)
Hint:
E.D, T.P, D&M
KEY PEOPLE IN SOCIOLOGY:
◉ EMILE DURKHEIM (1903):
The founder of functionalist sociology
◉ TALCOTT PARSONS (1961) :
An American functionalist who draws on the ideas Durkheim originally had emphasized
◉ DAVIS AND MOORE (1945)
They all outlined a specific function of education!
Define social solidarity and who made it.
Hint: “sense of community through transmission of..”
Durkheim (1903):
◉ Through the transmission of shared beliefs and values from generation to generation in school social solidarity (which is a sense of community) is born.
◉ Without this cooperation would be impossible as people would chase their own selfish desires!
◉ School acts as the bridge to society (remember this point)
Define specialist skills and who made it.
Hint: Durkheim made this one aswell.
SPECIALIST SKILLS
Durkheim (1903)
(spamming these theories)
Simplified:Modern companies have a lot of complex division/job roles that goes into the manufacturing of a product, Lets say a Rolex, This requires a multitude of people with special sets of skills for example someone who is really good at placing the hands on a watch.
Education teaches these skills that are required so they can play their part in the departments of a company they’re assigned too.
slightly more in depth version for nerds.
SPECIALIST SKILLS:
-Modern Industrial economies have complex division when it comes to labor as production of an item (for example a Rolex) involves cooperation of many different specialist (one persons of the Rolex could be placing the hand of the watch)
-Education teaches individuals the specialist knowledge and skills that they need to play their part in the social division of labor
Define societal standards and who made them
TALCOTT PARSON (1961)
Talcott believes there are two types of standards/rules held for each student
Universalistic Standards: These are rules that apply for everyone this can be found in a school setting
Particularistic Standards: These are rules which only apply to a single student normally found in homes for example curfews for obvious safety reasons!!
Name an example of a paticularistic and a universalistic standard.
Hint: Think “curfews.”
(any viable answer)
FOUND IN SCHOOLS:
-Everyone can leave the building at 3:30pm (Universalstic)
FOUND IN HOMES
-You have to be home by 8pm.
(particularistic)
What are the two types of status in society that one can get and how + examples
STATUS IN SOCIETY:
There are two types of status ascribed and achieved
Ascribed: Is normally a birth right meaning the status was gifted to the person at birth for example A person of the Royal family as they’re born a Prince will have an ascribed status!
Achieved: Normally something that is achieved through vigorous work towards that goal for example someone such as Cristiano Ronaldo would not be born with his high status and instead have to work for it
SIMPLIFIED ANSWER FOR SILLY SAUSAGES
Ascribed= A birthright given from birth (King Charles)
Achieved= Earned status or worked for (CR7)
Define meritocracy as well as who came up with the theory:
Meritocracy: (Parsons 1961)
Parsons believes school prepares us for the wider society and believes school supplies everyone with equal opportunities.
He also believe Rewards are handed out equally to the amount of effort poured in! (important)
-They argue that inequality Is necessary so the best jobs will only go to the most talented
(remember functionalist not functionalism don’t have this rose tinted view of society)
Define Role allocation and who made it!
ROLE ALLOCATION:
(DAVIS AND MOORE (1945)
-Education can be seen as a proving ground of ability, Students are both sifted and sorted through to be allocated into where there believed roles in society are (an example of this is the system of sets 1, 2, 3, 4 etc..) Supposed to help match the job they’re best suited for in the workplace.
-They argue inequality is necessary so the best jobs go to the most talented
BLURT TIME:
TRY WITHOUT LOOKING SUMMARISE MOST OF WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THESE FLASH CARDS ABOUT FUNCTIONALISM AND MAKE AN EVALUATION!
(Can be outloud or on paper)
EVALUATION:
*Inequalities within education by social groups (social class, gender and ethnicity.) show meritocracy to be a myth as it shows equal oppurtunities DON’T exist.
*Functionalist believe everyone is a “passive puppet”following the same beliefs!
*With factors like high unemployment in you students..suggest that we are not all taught these “special skills” or sifted into the best roles.
*Functionalist ignore the negative problems with the school system such as bullying amongst people in a community
*As a result of functionalist being old dead white men there views are quite outdated!
Here is an example question they can ask you try (out loud if you want say some points) Or on paper try it yourself!
OUTLINE TWO FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THE EDUCATIONS SYSTEM ACCORDING TO FUNCTIONALIST SOCIOLOGIST (4MARKS)
OUTLINE TWO FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THE EDUCATIONS SYSTEM ACCORDING TO FUNCTIONALIST SOCIOLOGIST(4 MARKS)
One function of education performed by schools according to functionalist is, Role allocation, which is the sifiting of students into ability groups which s backed by the sociologists David and Moore of (1945). This refers to the sifiting of groups into ability groups allowing those suitable to obtain the best possible jobs.
Another function of education performed by school is, Specialist Skills. Which are skills taught within schools which can be transferred to the work place. This is backed by Durkheim in 1903. And teaches specalist knowledge and skills so students can suitably fit into the complex work division when they enter society.
