theories- functionalism Flashcards
what is a consensus theory?
- acceptance of the central values of society/see society as fair
what is a conflict theory?
- disagree/challenge the main/central values of society, see society as unfair for some
what are the conflict theories?
- feminist
- Marxism
what are structural theories (macro)?
- focus on society as a whole, argue social institutions/ structures determine individual behaviours
what are social action theories (micro)?
- focus on small scale group interactions, argue individuals create social institutions/structures
what theories are macro/structural?
- functionalism
- new right
- Marxism
- feminists
what theories are micro/social action?
- interactionalists
- labelling
- personal life
- neo-Marxism
what is the background of functionalism?
- established during modern era
- believe society characterised by rapid political/social change caused by industrialisation
what did Parsons say about how society works?
- like a biological organism, a system with needs and functions
- all parts keep working properly doing their own job and working in harmony with each other
what does Emile Durkeim say about individuals choices?
- rather than consciously choosing the good, they are constrained by social factors
how is social order maintain in small agricultural societies?
- they did similar tasks e.g farming and faced similar problems
- shared set of moral values
in small agricultural societies how is moral values maintained?
- through religion
collective conscience
In modern society how is breakdown prevented?
- through division of labour
- everyone depends on each other
why did Durkeim worry society was going to breakdown?
- as people would see themselves as individuals rather than a member of society and we’d be in a state of normlessness
how does Parsons say individuals are socialised?
- through the family and education
- shared cultural norms and values
what does Parsons say this leads to?
- value consensus
why do individuals behave similarly?
- they’ve been socialised to behave in certain ways
what are the 4 functional prerequisites?
- goal maintenance
- adaption
- integration
- latency/pattern maintenance
what do all institutions meet?
- at least one functional prerequisites
for parsons what does change in one part of society lead to?
- changes elsewhere which allows balance
what does Merton, 1968 say to critique Parsons?
- society isn’t all interconnected
- there’s ‘dysfunctions’
- parts often don’t function effectively
how do feminists criticise functionalism?
- nuclear family and socialisation contributes to oppressive patriarchy (Oakley)
what does Merton say about institutions?
- institutions have ‘manifest’ functions (intended)
- and ‘latent’ functions (unintended’
