Functionalism Flashcards
What is functionalism?
It explains social institutions in terms of the function they perform for the wider society.
What are social institutions?
They are the groups that make up society. For example, families, education systems and social stratifications.
What is a biological analogy?
It is used to understand functionalism. It means we compare society to the human body. It is how society fits together (like the organs in our body). The different social institutions are the important organs.
What is social cohesion?
It is a way of bonding people together.
What is a structural approach?
It is a focus on the survive of society and how it influences and directs human behaviour.
Who is Emile Durkheim?
He is a major figure in the origins of functionalism.
Why approach is this?
Consensus.
