Parsons' Functionalism

Question 1

(Parsons) Similarities between society and an organism

Answer 1

1. Both are self regulating systems of interelated and interdependent parts that fit together e.g. organs vs institutions
2. Both have needs that, if not met, will cause both to end/die e.g. nutritional needs vs socialisation
3. Both systems are made of many parts which have functions which contribute to meeting its needs e.g. circulatory system vs economy

Question 2

How is social order achieved?

Answer 2

Shared culture/ value system which provides the framework for how people should behave

Question 3

What are the two functions which ensure people conform to shared norms/ values?

Answer 3

Socialisation

Social control- positive sanctions for conformity and negative sanctions for deviance

Question 4

How does value consensus ensure social order?

Answer 4

Intergrates people into the social system

Question 5

What are the systems 4 needs?

Answer 5

Adaptation

Goal attainment- setting goals and allocating resources to achieve them

Intergration- different parts of the system are intergrated to pursue shared goals

Latency- refers to processes that maintain society over time by socialisation

Question 6

What are the two types of societies and what are the differences between them?

Answer 6

Traditional- people expected to put collective interests first and judged based on particularistic standards dictated by ascribed status

Modern- people pursue individual self interest and are judged by universalistic standards

Question 7

Structural differentiation. Give an example

Answer 7

A gradual process in which separate, functionally specialised institutions develop.

E.g. in traditional societies the kinship system performs many functions but as society progresses, it loses its functions to other institutions

Question 8

Merton’s criticism- indespensability

Give an example

Answer 8

Assumes everything in society is indespensible in its existing form without considering functional alternatives e.g. one parent families may be able to socialise children just as well as the nuclear family

Question 9

Merton’s criticism- universal functionalism

Answer 9

Assumes everything in society performs a positive function for society as a whole when things that are functional for one group may be disfunctional for another due to conflicts of interest

Question 10

Criticisms- marxism

Answer 10

Society is not harmonious and is based on exploitation. Stability is the result of the dominant class being able to prevent change through coercion or manipulation

Question 11

Criticism- postmodernists

Answer 11

It is a meta narrative that does not account for the diversity and instability of post modern society