intro - functionalism Flashcards
What kind of theory is functionalism?
a structural consensus theory
What is structuralism?
a perspective concerned with the overall structure of society, and sees individual behaviour as moulded by social institutions like the family, education system, the mass media and work.
What is meant by consensus?
society is harmonious and social order is maintained through widespread agreement
What kind of approach does functionalism take?
macro approach - looking at large scale processes, such as social stability and change
What are functional prerequisites?
certain basic needs or requirements that must be met if society is to survive e.g. food, care of the young and the socialisation of new generations into the culture of society
What is value consensus?
general agreement around the main norms and values of any society - a peaceful and harmonious society
What is social solidarity?
the idea of a well-intergrated functioning society where all members have been socialised into its shared norms and values
What is collective consciousness?
the set of shared beliefs, ideas,and moral attitudes which operate as a unifying force within society
What did Durkheim think?
- society was held together by social bonds, that are reinforced by a sense of social solidarity
- society was moving away from a simple social structure to one with a complex, specialised division of labour
What is Parson’s organic analogy?
society is similar to the human body - different social institutions work together to fulfil functional prerequisites, they perform vital functions that allow society to function harmoniously
- social institutions are connected + function in relation to one another, just like organs in the body
What are social facts?
institutions, statuses, roles, laws, beliefs, population distribution, urbanisation, etc - aspects of social life that shape the behaviour of individuals
- social facts can be explained in terms of their function
- Durkheim saw suicide as a social facts: it exists beyond the individual
What is Durkheim’s study of suicide?
- used the comparative method = studied statistics around Western Europe in 1897
- concluded that people were more likely to commit suicide if they were male, Protestant and unmarried
Strengths of functionalism
- it recognises the constraints of structures in society and the influence they have over humans
- it provides a sensible explanation for social order and stability, and why most people conform to the rules
criticisms of functionalism
Marxists = argues that the norms and values that are being passed on are those of the ruling class - the dominant ideology which serves the ruling classes, there is no consensus in society
Feminists = argue that functionalism fails to recognise patriarchy in society \
Post modernists = there are no longer shared goals and value consensus in todays multicultural and diverse society
