Sociological Theories - Functionalism Flashcards
What are social institutions
The different parts of society
What is social order
Patterns of shared behaviour brought by social institutions
What is social integration
When social institutions socialise individuals into a system of norms and values
What is Value consensus
When individuals generally agree on values and standards of behaviour
What is social solidarity
A sense of belonging to a community which has a common identity
What is organic analogy
A functionalist theory that compares society and how it functions to the human body
What is consensus theory
A theory which believes that the institutions of society are working together to maintain social cohesion and stability
What type of theory is functionalism
A consensus theory & structuralist/macro theory
What do functionalist say people are a product of
Family, religion, media, education/schooling, friends/peers
What are the criticisms of functionalism
- hard to explain conflict e.g. war
- too much emphasis on consensus & order
- ignores individuals freedom of choice
- Marxists claim it fails to show the unequal distribution of power in society
Who is a main sociologist for functionalism
Talcott Parsons
