Functionalism Flashcards
Consensus theories
What are consensus theories?
Consensus theories are those that see people in society as having shared interests and society functioning on the basis of there being broad consensus on its norms and values. This is most associated with functionalism.
Consensus theories
What is the organic analogy?
Durkheim viewed society as being similar to living being that adapts to its environment with component parts. Institutions exist for their functions for the maintenance of society.
Consensus theories
What is the value consensus and how is it integrated in society?
- Social order is achieved through a value system - a shared culture. The norms and values within it allow for cooperation. Social order is only possible if people agree on these values - or have ‘value consensus.’
There are two mechanisms to this system which helps provide social order:
- Socialisation - Individuals are taught to want to do what is needed to be done. The norms and values are ‘internalised’.
- Social Control - Positive sanctions reward conformity and negative ones punish deviance.
Durheim: secondary socialisation
What is mechanical solidarity?
- The social intergration of members of a society who have common values and beliefs
- In pre-industrial society, the family could carry out socialisation as individuals would have little to no contact with people in other parts of the country
Durheim: secondary socialisation
What is organic solidarity?
- social cohesion based upon the dependence individuals have on each other in more advanced societies
- In a more complex, large-scale society it is necessary to learn the shared values of broader society as individuals have to perform specific economic roles based on the division of labour. For this reason, a more organised education system is required.
Durheim: secondary socialisation
Primary socialisation?
- Passes on particular norms and values
- Treats individuals as special
- Close relationship
- How to bond, how to create relationships, respecting authority
- Emphasises the responsibilities towards each other
Durheim: secondary socialisation
Secondary socialisation?
- Passes on universal norms and values
- Treats individuals the same as everyone else
- More distant
- Key cultural values such as achievement, healthy competition, equality of opportunity, social solidarity, democracy, religion and morality.
- Emphasise the moral responsibilities that individuals have towards each other and the wider society
Durheim: secondary socialisation
Instilling socail solidarity (with examples)
The education system acts as a bridge between the family and wider society. Durkheim described schools as a society in miniature. The education system does this through:
- Children start to see themselves as part of a bigger picture and learn how to work with people from different backgrounds to achieve common goals.
- e.g. Rishi Sunak’s policy of individuals after A-levels having to commit to nation service for 1 year. education prepares for work
Durheim: secondary socialisation
Teaching social rules amd how to abide by them
The education system acts as a bridge between the family and wider society. Durkheim described schools as a society in miniature. The education system does this through:
- Teaching children how to follow a particular set of rules and how to behave which teaches children how to function in society.
- Teaching children how to follow a particular set of rules and how to behave which teaches children how to function in society.
Durheim: secondary socialisation
Teaching specialist skills
The education system acts as a bridge between the family and wider society. Durkheim described schools as a society in miniature. The education system does this through:
- In agrarian society people migh have learned a particular job or craft from a parent
- Jobs today require technical knowledge so children learn how to work on an assembly line
- Children learn shared values but would not nevessarily all get the same education
Durheim: secondary socialisation
Importance of socilaisation
Move towards individualism in modernity was a concern for Durkheim because:
- It could lead to too little social solidarity.
- Anomie (a state of normlessness or lack of shared norms) could occur.
Durheim: secondary socialisation
Give an evaluation of the importance of socialisation
Evaluation:
- Marxists don’t accept that there are a set of neutral norms and values that are best for everyone in society
- Postmodernists argue that contemporary society is diverse and multicultural schools do not and should not try and produce a shared set of norms and values
- outdates as the economy is no longer based around assembly lines
Durheim: secondary socialisation
What is social solidarity?
a well-intergrated functioning society where all members have been socialised into it’s shared norms and values
Davis and Moore - Role allocation
Define social stratification?
the system of socail standing, ranked based on factors like wealth, income, education, family, background and power. (Inequality)
Davis and Moore - Role allocation
What is role allocation?
Sifting and sorting people into the roles that they will go onto perform in life. It’s the ability to access a higher reward that encourages individuals to put in extra effort therefore socail startification is essential
