Functionalism Flashcards
Organic analogy
Parsons identifies 3 similarities between the body and society.
* systems organisms- both the body and society made up of inter dependent parts that fit together in fixed ways.
- systems needs- how organisms have needs to survive (nutrition) so does society and is accomplished e.g through socialisation.
- functions - refers to the contribution to meeting systems needs (circulatory system. Economy sub system)
Value consensus and social order
How do individuals cooperate and how is social order possible?
Parsons:
A central value system= social order
Provides framework that allows individuals to cooperate— by laying down rules.
Social order possible when people agree on these norms
Parsons calls this agreement value consensus.
Integration of individuals
Integrating individuals into ?
And what is achieved?
By integrating individuals what is this directing them to do?
What are parsons 2 mechanisms for ensuring individuals conform to shared normas and meet systems needs?
Value consensus makes social order possible.
Does this by integrating individuals into the social system.
Thereby meeting system’s needs.
E.g the system ensures peoples material needs are met and this leeds to a general value about the need for people to work. For this to be achieved there must be some rules or norms e.g punctuality.
Socialisation - means individuals internalise the norms and values so society becomes a part of their personality structure
Social control - positive/ negative sanctions
The parts of the social system
What approach does parson take?
Building block approach.
Subsystems are related institutions grouped together and make up the social system as a whole.
The system’s needs
What are the 4 basic needs parsons identifies?
Each are met by a separate sub system of institutions.
what do they ensure?
Adaption - meets members material needs through economic subsystem
Goal attainment - sets goals and allocates resources to achieve it. Function of the polifical subsystem through institution parliament.
Integration - to pursue shared goals. Role on insti. Religion media education.
Latency- refers to the processes which maintain society over time e.g tension management.
Ensure that all societys needs are met and social stability is maintained.
Types of society
F
Social change
How does it happen?
What is structural differentiation?
Dynamic equilibrium?
Parsons :
Gradual evolutionary process of increasing complexity and structural dofferentiation.
Organic analogy is relevant ; societies move from simple to complex structures.
Societies develop, the kinship system loses functions to factories, political parties.
Parsons calls this structural differentiation
Gradual processes, institutions meeting a diff need.
Sees gradual change occuring through dynamic equilibrium. As change lccurs in one part of system it changes other parts.
Mertons internal critique of functionalism
Indespensibility
Parsons assumes that everything in society is functionally indispensable
Merton argues that its an untested assumption and theres the possibility of functional alternatives.
Functional unity
However instead of functional unity there may be functional autonomy (independence) from others parts.
External criticism
What do postmodernists argue?
Assumss society is orderly and stable and ignores the diversity and instability in todays postmodern society.
No longer a possible theory bc of society being increasingly fragmented.
External criticisms
Conflict perspective- Marxism
What is society not, and what is it actually based on?
What is their view on stability and shared values?
Inability to explain change and conflict.
Argue that society is not a harmonious whole rather it is based in exploitation and division into classes.
Stability is the result of dom class preventing change through use of coercion or idological manipulation.
Shared values are merely a cloak concealing intereets of dom class.
External criticism
Action perspective criticisms
What does dennis wrong criticise functionalism for being?
Too deterministic. “Over socialised or deterministic view of the individual”
Sees that individuals create society by their interactions
whereas f sees humans as shaped by society through the social system that uses socialisation to ensure people perform prescribed roles.
