functionalism Flashcards
Structures in society dictate our behaviour - what is another way of saying this?
top down deterministic
what type of approach does functionalism take?
macro
Who is the founding father of functionalism?
Emile Durkheim
Explain organic analogy
society is like a body - organs (institutions) work together to function correctly and need to meet the same needs
what are norms and values?
ensure everything works towards the same goals to maintain social order and control
what is functional fit?
changes occur in society gradually to best meet needs of society
e.g main family type used to be nuclear (two parents and children) but now there are many types
How do functionalists believe we should study society?
sociology should be scientific to establish cause and effect
society is predictable so can be studied scientifically
what type of view do functionalists take?
positivist
AO3 - marxists and feminists disagreement
society is not good and positive for everyone
AO3 - social action theorists disagreement
we are not passive puppets dictated by society
AO3 - post modernists disagreement
we no longer live in a neat and structured society like when Durkheim was alive
it is fragmented and chaotic
what is value consensus?
series of interdependent parts held together by a shared culture
What two main functions did Durkheim find in the education system?
creating social solidarity
teaching specialist skills
What is social solidarity?
members must feel part of a single body to cooperate
done in education system by transmitting culture from one generation to the next
prepares us for wider society (school is ‘society of miniature’)
What is teaching specialist skills?
schools teach individuals specialist knowledge needed to play a part in the social division of labour in a complex society
What does Parsons say (building on Durkheim)?
suggests school is a ‘focal socialising agency’
What is a ‘focal socialising agency’?
bridges the gap between home and wider society
school needs to teach skills that are not taught at home
Parsons- family:
children judged by particularistic characteristics (only apply to that child)
child’s status prescribed at birth and is fixed
Parsons- school:
wider society judge us all by the same universalistic standards
same laws apply to everyone
judged by same standards e.g same exam
status largely achieved e.g we pass and fail
Parsons and meritocracy:
school prepares us to move from family to wider society
both based on meritocratic principles
meritocracy means same access to opportunities and rewarded through efforts and abilities
What do Davis and Moore say?
education supports society through role allocation
school sifts and sorts pupils to best suited roles
inequality is inevitable
Davis and Moore on keeping wages high:
attract more people and the best people are selected
modern economy - human capital (workers skill)
AO3 - Wolf Report 2011
specialist skills not taught adequately
found high quality apprenticeships are rare and up to 1/3 of 16-19 are on courses that do not lead to higher education
AO3 - Tumin criticises Davis and Moore:
Davis and Moore put forward circular argument
How do we know a job is important? It is paid well
Why are some jobs paid well? They are important
AO3 - Marxist criticism
no shared values but ideology imposed by minority dominant class
AO3 - Interactionists criticism
functionalists assume we are passive puppets and don’t acknowledge some pupils reject school
AO3 - neoliberals and new right criticism:
argue state education systems fail to properly prepare young people for work
