Functionalism

Question 1

What type of theory is functionalism?

Answer 1

A macro sociological theory

Question 2

Who is considered the “father” of functionalism?

Answer 2

Emile Durkheim

Question 3

What is the question functionalists ask themselves?

Answer 3

How does the functions performed by this social institution reinforce social solidarity and the value consensus?

Question 4

What does functionalism suggests about society?

Answer 4

That it is a natural, organic reality

Question 5

Define the organic analogy

Answer 5

• The comparison of society to a human being, seeing society as the larger product of individual, interdependent parts working together - each part works together to benefit the whole.
• Every part of the human body has a function, every institution in society has a function to benefit the whole

Question 6

What does each institution strive for

Answer 6

To benefit the whole and retain social solidarity and order within society

Question 7

What is disorder compared to?

Answer 7

An illness that threatens the dependability of the entire beings intricate system

Question 8

Define value consensus

Answer 8

General agreement by members of society of what is good. When obtained and maintained, it makes society functional, if not society is dysfunctional

Question 9

Define social solidarity

Answer 9

A feeling of belonging to a shared identity and larger community

Question 10

Define anomie

Answer 10

Where individuals lose their sense of belonging and become anonymous, uncertain of who they are and their role in society

Question 11

What is the name for the process in which the values of society aren’t transmitted via institutions such as family and the education system?

Answer 11

Value discontinuity

Question 12

Define mutual interdependence

Answer 12

A relationship providing mutual benefit and / or dependence

Question 13

What term expresses a societies’ value system?

Answer 13

Collective consciousness

Question 14

What to social structures do in terms of the individual?

Answer 14

They condition the individual to behave according to the norms, beliefs and values of that society

Question 15

Define structural differentiation

Answer 15

As modern society evolves, it’s institutions become increasingly specialised.
Eg education system means that the church and family institutions don’t have to teacher children the basics of reading or writing

Question 16

What is the name for an institution that fails to benefit the society and what happens to it as a result?

Answer 16

• Dysfunctional

- It ceases to exist and is replaced

Question 17

Define meritocracy

Answer 17

Allocating occupational roles of pharyngeal importance to individuals of different abilities and talents.

Question 18

What is the name for a function that is an intended repercussion of institutions?

Answer 18

A manifest function is an intentional repercussion of an institution

Question 19

What is the name for a function that is the unintentional product of social institutions

Answer 19

A latent function

Question 20

Outline the process of specialisation

Answer 20

• overpopulation
• lack of land > not everyone can farm
• a group of people farm for the majority
• they don’t have time for other things eg baking/making clothes > those who aren’t farming do these things > benefit all

Question 21

Criticisms of functionalism

Answer 21

• Disregards class, gender and ethnical differences