Functionalism Flashcards
outline logical criticisms as an external critique of functionalism
- F is teleological - the idea that things exist because of their function
- however a real explanation is one that identifies the cause of things
- F is also unscientific - a theory is only scientific if it can be proved wrong
outline conflict criticisms as an external critique of functionalism
- Marxists critique F for its inability to explain conflict and change
- society isn’t harmonious - its based on exploitation + divisions
- F is a ‘conservative ideology’ - justifies the existing social order
outline action perspective criticisms as an external critique of functionalism
- Wrong: F has an over socialised and over deterministic view of the individual. e.g. socialisation shapes peoples behaviour - they have no free will
- F reifies society (treats it as a distinct thing over individuals, with its own needs), whereas social reality is only constructed by individuals
outline postmodern criticisms as an external critique of functionalism
- F assumes society is stable which doesn’t explain instability/ conflict in PM society
- F is a meta narrative - is a big story of society that isn’t applicable to PM fragmented society
name Parson’s 3 similarities between society and a biological organism (organic analogy)
- system
- system needs
- functions
outline Parsons view of the family in terms of social change
- the functions performed by the family depends on the type of society
- there are 2 family structures: the nuclear family and the extended family
- there are 2 types of societies: modern industrial (fits the NFs) and traditional pre-industrial society (fits the extended families)
- traditional pre industrial society: families spend their whole lives in one village working the same job that could be passed down generationally (agriculture)
- modern industrial society: industries require people to move where the jobs are (a geographically + socially mobile work force is needed)
define structural differentiation in terms of social change
- the gradual process in which separately specialised institutions develop to meet a different need
define moving equilibrium in terms of social change
- as a change occurs in one part of a system, it produces changes in other parts
what is an AO3 evaluation of Parson’s view of the family
- Young and Willmott + Laslett: the NF was the most common family type pre-industrialisation so was the extended family actually the most suited?
- Y and W: industrialisation didn’t give way to a nuclear family but more so a ‘mum-centred’ w/c nuclear family
- the ext. family hasn’t disappeared - and it still performs important functions (financial stability, childcare)
outline system as a similarity between society and a biological organism
- the human body and society are both self regulating systems of independent parts that work together (organs - institutions)
outline system needs as a similarity between society and a biological organism
- organisms and the social system have needs that must be met to survive
- e.g. members must be socialised
outline functions as a similarity between society and a biological organism
- the function of a system it makes to meet the system needs ensures its survival
- e.g. the circulatory system carries oxygen + nutrients to the tissues and the economy helps maintain social order by meeting the need for food and shelter
outline Parson’s idea of the family’s loss of functions
- the pre-industrial family was multi functional; e.g. was both a unit of production (family members worked together) and a unit of consumption (fed + clothed its members)
- when society industrialises, the fam changes its structure from extended to nuclear and loses many functions
- thus, the nuclear fam performs 2 functions: primary socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities
what are Parsons 2 family functions
1) the primary socialisation of children: equips them with basic skills + societies values to integrate them into society
2) the stabilisation of adult personalities: the family is a place where adults can relax / release tensions which allows them to return to the workplace refreshed and ready to meet the demands - its functional for efficiency of the economy
how does Parsons think social order is achieved
- it’s achieved through the existence of a central value system (a shared culture) as it provides a framework for individuals to cooperate through how they should behave etc
- social order is only possible as long as members of society agree on these norms + values (value consensus)
what is the function of the value consensus
- to make social order possible through integrating individuals into society, thus meeting the system’s needs
- e.g. system has to ensure peoples material needs are met, and so with the consensus would value the need for people to work
what are the 2 ways Parsons says the system ensures a value consensus/ individual integration
- socialisation
- social control
how does socialisation ensure a value consensus/ individual integration
- through socialisation, individuals internalise the systems norms and values so that society becomes part of their personality structure
how does social control ensure a value consensus/ individual integration
- positive sanctions reward conformity, whilst negative ones punish deviance
- e.g. those who conform to the norm of individual success through education are rewarded with educational certificates whilst those who deviate are stigmatised
outline the second half of Parsons ‘building block’ model for describing the parts of the social system
- institutions are grouped to form sub-systems; e.g. shops
- these form the economic sub-system; whose function is to meet society’s material needs
- finally these sub-systems make up the social system
outline the first half of Parsons ‘building block’ model for describing the parts of the social system
- at the bottom, is individual actions; each action is governed by a social norm/ rule
- these norms come in clusters called status-roles; statuses are the positions that exist in a given social system - e.g. teacher
- status-roles also come in clusters, known as institutions; e.g. the family
outline the A in Parson’s AGIL schema
- Adaption: the social system meets its members’ material needs through the economic sub-system
define Parsons AGIL schema to outline the sub-systems needed to meet societies needs
- Adaption
- Goal attainment
- Integration
- Latency
outline the I in Parson’s AGIL schema
- Integration: the separate parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals. this is the role of the sub-system of religion, education and media
outline the G in Parson’s AGIL schema
- Goal attainment: society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. this is the function of the political sub-system, through institutions like parliament
outline the L in Parson’s AGIL schema
- Latency: refers to the processes that maintain society over time. the kinship sub system provides pattern maintenance and tension management
name the 3 aspects of Merton’s internal critiques of functionalism
- indispensability
- functional unity
- universal functionalism
outline indispensability as Merton’s internal critique of functionalism
- Parsons assumes every aspect of society is ‘functionally indispensable’ in its existing form
- M suggests that there are functional alternatives - structures can be well performed in alternative structures
- e.g. primary socialisation may not be best performed by the NF - but also by other fam types
outline functional unity as Merton’s internal critique of functionalism
- P assumes all parts of society are integrated into a unity + are functional for all, there is also a moving equilibrium
- M says that in complex moderns society, society has many parts which have functional autonomy
outline universal functionalism as Merton’s internal critique of functionalism
- P assumes that everything ins society performs a positive function
- M says that some things may be positive for one group - they may not be for another
outline Merton’s distinction between manifest + latent functions
- M uses the example of the Hopi Native American tribe who in times of drought, performed a rain dance with the aim of producing rain (its manifest (intended) function)
- however, the ritual also has latent (unintended) functions, such as promoting solidarity in times of hardship
- Merton’s distinction reveals the hidden connections between social phenomena which the actors may not be aware of
