Functionalism and New right

Question 1

Functionalism

Answer 1

A consensus theory that states that societies are characterised by social order which is underpinned by agreement on what values and norms are important.

Question 2

Functionalism - Parsons (1951)

Answer 2

Parson argues that society works best when there is agreement (value consensus).

States that in all societies some individuals are deserving of greater reward because they are more talented.

Question 3

Social stratification

Answer 3

Different layers in society. Features in all human societies and therefore functionally necessary.

Question 4

Social order

Answer 4

Refers to the way in which society is organized along with certain rules and standards.

Question 5

Natural inequality

Answer 5

Being born into a rank in society that you didn’t chose to be in. Caused by differences in natural resources. eg health, age and physical characteristics

Question 6

Functionalism - Davis and moore (1945)

Point 1

Answer 6

Argued that social stratification has been a feature of all human society and therefore concluded that stratification is functionally necessary.

• The main function of social stratification is to ensure effective role allocation and performance

Question 7

Meritocracy

Answer 7

A social system in which people receive rewards, such as higher pay or promotion on the basis of merit or ability.

Question 8

Functionalism - Davis and Moore (1945)

Point 2

Answer 8

Davis and Moore argue that:

1. Class societies are meritocracies
2. Social institutions allocate individual eg school and universities
3. Class position is a fair reflection of talent
4. Role of allocation produces stratification
5. Stratification encourages all members of society to work to the best their ability.

Question 9

Functionalism - Davis and Moore (1945)
Point 3

Davis and Moore argue that the importance of a social position is determined by:

Answer 9

1. Functional uniqueness

2. The degree of dependence of others

Question 10

Functional uniqueness

Answer 10

The belief that something can only be carried out by one person or a small number or people.

Question 11

Degree of dependence on others

Answer 11

The belief that others are dependent on unique talents.

Question 12

Functionalism - Tumin (1953)

A critique of Davis and Moore

Contemporary evidence

Part 1

Answer 12

1. Difficulty within determining functional importance: Which jobs are the most important is an opinion.
2. Lack of consensus about rewards: There is conflict and resentment with regards to the distribution of rewards
3. Power and Rewards: Rewards reflect power rather than agreement among society.
4. Pool of talent: Some people are just as talented as people in top jobs but haven’t had the same opportunities.

Question 13

Critique of Functionalism

Answer 13

Parsons and Davis and Moore see norsemen industries societies as meritocracies (where those who achieve the top positions do so on merit rather than family background or inheritance)

However no one has the same life chances in the UK so access to top positions is often denied to those from lower classes due to lack of opportunity.

Question 14

The New right

• Saunders (1990)

Point 1

Answer 14

Social stratification is not inevitable- a society that is based on social equality would only work if considerable force (death / imprisonment) was used to motivate people to work to the best of their ability.

• Supports some form is equality (legal equality, equality of opportunity)
• Rejects equality of outcome (everyone gets the same rewards whatever they do)
• Inequality is desirable to motivate people to compete
• Inequality is the price to be paid for the effectiveness of the neo-liberal free market economy that has delivered the economic growth that has raised the living standards of all sections of society.
• Critical of the left-wing government’s attempts to equalise societies

Question 15

The New Right

• Murray (1984)

Answer 15

Murray stated that by providing welfare benefits to groups such as the unemployed and lone parent families, the government has created a dependency culture whereby poor people are given no motivation to better themselves.

• Murray stated that rising birth rates outside marriage, crime and youth unemployment were all signs of the irresponsible attitudes among the underclass.

Question 16

A critique of Murray

Answer 16

Murray only focuses on the people at the bottom of society and doesn’t look at the cause of poverty.

• He would argue that it’s the work of a capitalist society.

Question 17

The underclass

Answer 17

The poorest members of society that are dependent on benefits e.g the unemployed, lone- parent families, chronically sick and disabled people who cannot work.

Question 18

Functionalism - Tumin (1953)

A critique of Davis and Moore

Contemporary evidence

Part 2

Answer 18

5. Is training a sacrifice? Davis & Moore argue that higher rewards are needed to motivate people to train for a long time, but universities have their own rewards.
6. Motivate: Some people may be motivated by altruism rather than money.
7. Dysfunctions of stratification: Stratification creates hostility between different sections of society rather than helping it to run smoothly.

Question 19

Value consensus

Answer 19

The idea that society works best when there’s is an agreement

Question 20

Role of allocation

Main function of social stratification

Answer 20

Allocate the right people to the most important jobs this ensures that the most important positions in society are filled by the most able people by offering them higher awards. eg Doctors, lawyers etc

EXTRA INFORMATION
Training for a doctor requires people with higher educational qualifications. demands long period of training and a lot of responsibility

Question 21

Performance

Main function of social stratification

Answer 21

Ensures that people in these roles perform them to the highest standards people in key positions

eg. doctors or chief executives of companies have many others depending on them so it is important to motivate them to work the best of their ability.

Question 22

Consensus

Answer 22

Societies are characterised by social order which is underpinned by agreement on what values and norms are important.

Question 23

Contemporary evidence

Functionalism

Lord sugar

Answer 23

Alan sugar born in east end of london the son of a jewish tailor. Growing he lives in a council flat and attended state schools.

Left school at 16 and started selling car aerials and electrical goods. Started electronics company and sold.

Question 24

Dependency culture

Answer 24

providing welfare benefits to group such as unemployed and lone parents families. Government has created a ‘dependency culture whereby poor people are given no motivation to better themselves.

Question 25

Evaluation AO3

Contemporary evidence

example of dependency culture

Answer 25

Channel 4 series ‘Benefits street’ is an example of individuals develop a dependency culture and expect everything to be done for them as they rely on the government to provide benefits which gives them
no motivation to better themselves.

Question 26

The New right

• Saunders (1990)

Point 2

Answer 26

Argued that Inequality is the price paid for the effectiveness of the neo-liberal free market economy that has delivered the economic growth and prosperity that has generally raised the living standards of all sections of society.

• Critical of the left-wing governments attempt to equalise society.

Question 27

What did Marx Argue

Answer 27

That the social stratification is created by the economic system and based on the relationship between people and the system