Functionalism

Question 0

Parsons identifies 3 similarities between society and a biological organism. What are they?

Answer 0

System (Both self regulating), System needs (It’s members need socialisation and organisms have needs) and Functions (Institutions in society contribute to societies overall wellbeing)

Question 1

What do functionalists describe society as?

Answer 1

And organic analogy - we are like a biological organism

Question 2

How are individuals able to cooperate harmoniously in society?

Answer 2

Through a shared culture and norms & values that create a value consensus

Question 3

What is the importance of the integration of individuals in society?

Answer 3

It makes social order possible by integrating us to meet society’s needs

Question 4

What must be done to create social order?

Answer 4

Social needs must be met

Question 5

What are the 2 mechanisms used by the system to ensure we conform to shared norms and values?

Answer 5

Socialisation, which internalises the norms and values and social control

Question 6

What is the consequence of conformity?

Answer 6

Behaviour will be predictable but will be towards the common good

Question 7

What coordinates the different parts of society to ensure its needs are met?

Answer 7

Shared values

Question 8

Parsons identifies 4 needs - the AGIL schema which are each met by a separate sub-system of institutions. What are these needs, and what subsystem are they met by?

Answer 8

Adaptation (economic), Goal attainment (political), Integration (religion and the media) and Latency (kinship)

Question 9

Which of the 4 needs that parsons identifies can be categorised as instrumental needs?

Answer 9

Adaptation and Goal attainment

Question 10

Which of the 4 needs that parsons identifies can be categorised as expressive needs?

Answer 10

Integration and Latency

Question 11

Two types of society have been identified by functionalists. What are they?

Answer 11

Traditional and Modern

Question 12

What are the 5 sets of norms within traditional societies?

Answer 12

Ascription, diffuseness, particularism, affectivity and collective orientation

Question 13

What are the 5 sets of norms within modern societies?

Answer 13

Achievement, specificity, universalism, affective neutrality and self orientation

Question 14

What are functionalists views on social change?

Answer 14

Functionalists believe that change is a gradual, evolutionary process where we move from a simple to complex society

Question 15

Once societies develop, what do functionalists believe occurs?

Answer 15

Structural differentiation

Question 16

Merton criticises 3 assumptions of Parsons. What are these criticisms?

Answer 16

Indispensability (functional alternatives for processes such as primary socialisation), Functional utility (functional autonomy), Universal functionalism (not everything performs positive functions)

Question 17

What is a manifest function?

Answer 17

An intended outcome

Question 18

What is a latent function?

Answer 18

A secondary/unintended outcome

Question 19

Give an example of a tradition that has both manifest and latent functions?

Answer 19

Hopi Indians doing a rain-dance for rain to come

Question 20

What are the logical criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 20

A real explanation is finding the cause of something, as cause comes before effect but functionalism explains the existence of one thing in terms of something else that can only be its effect and it is unscientific

Question 21

What are conflict perspective criticisms?

Answer 21

Functionalism can’t explain conflict and change, Marxists believe society is based on class exploitations, Stability is just the result of the dominant class using ideological manipulation

Question 22

What are action perspective criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 22

Dennis Wrong takes a deterministic view of the individual and they believe that individuals create societies, societies don’t create individuals

Question 23

What are post modern criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 23

Functionalism can’t account for the fragmentation of society and it is a meta-narrative or ‘big story’ that attempts to look at the whole of society