theory and methods - functionalism Flashcards
Around what time was the Enlightenment?
1715-1789 approx
What period is referred to as modernity?
1700s to 1960 approx
What period is referred to as postmodernity?
1960 - present day
What characterises the period of modernity?
- development of sociology
- growth in rational, scientific understanding and explanations
Who are some key sociological thinkers during the period of modernity?
- Auguste Comte
- Emile Durkheim
- Max Weber
- Karl Marx
What did early sociologists attempt to do?
- apply the same scientific principles which were being applied to nature to the organisation of human societies
- sociology emerges as a ’science’
What is meant by consensus theory?
- society is harmonious/ social order is maintained through widespread agreement, consensus
- functionalism
What is meant by conflict theory?
- society is conflict ridden and unstable/ emphasises social differences
- inequalities/ power and control by dominant groups
- elite rule/ dominant ideologies
- marxism
What are the three main approaches to sociology?
- structuralism
- social action/ interpretivist
- integrated approaches
What is meant by structuralism?
- overall structure of society - family, education, mass media and the economy, laws - act as a constraint to limit and control individual behaviour
- individual behaviour is moulded by social institutions
- macro approach, positivist methodological approach
e.g. functionalism and marxism
What is the functionalist view of society?
- sees society as stable, harmonious and integrated held together through social cohesion and value consensus
What was Emile Durkheim concerned with?
- rapid social change in society
- he identified that society was moving from a simple social structure to one with a complex, specialised division of labour
- argued that it was moving away from a traditional ‘mechanical solidarity’ with little division of labour
- modern society = division of labour promotes differences + weakens social solidarity
What is meant by anomie?
- in times where there is too much rapid change which undermines old norms creates a state of normlessness which can threaten social cohesion
What are social facts?
- institutions, statuses, roles, laws, beliefs, population distribution, urbanisation, etc
- aspects of social life that shape the behaviour of individuals
What did Durkheim’s study of suicide find?
- using the comparative method he concluded that people were more likely to commit suicide if they were male, Protestant and unmarried
What did Parsons argue?
- There are two types of society: traditional and modern
What characterises a traditional society?
put collective needs first, status is ascribed
What characterises a modern society?
The pursuit of individual needs – status is more likely to be achieved
what are the two needs of society according to Parsons?
Instrumental needs and expressive needs
What is meant by adaptation?
The social system meets its members material needs through an economic subsystem
What is meant by goal attainment?
Society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. This is the function of the political subsystem through institutions such as parliament.
What is meant by integration?
The different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals – the function of religion, media education, et cetera
What is meant by latency?
The processes that maintain society overtime – kinship subsystem provides pattern maintenance – socialising individuals to go on performing the roles society requires and tension management – let steam off after the stresses of work
what does Merton say about indispensability?
Parsons is wrong to assume that everything in society is functionally indispensable – nuclear families are presumed to give primary socialisation but a different type of family could equally do it
what does Merton say about functional unity?
Parsons is wrong to assume that all parts of society are tightly integrated into a single hole or unity change in one part doesn’t necessarily mean change in the other complex societies can have parts which are only distantly linked – functionally autonomous (independent)
What does Merton say about universal functionalism?
Parsons assumes that everything in society performs a positive function for society as a whole but some things may be functional for one group but not for another i.e. poverty.
Merton recognises that there may be conflict of interest between groups
what does Merton say about manifest (apparent) and latent (hidden) functions?
Actual functions may be different from the intended functions i.e. a hospital is built to make peoples health better but may also be a place where the doctors and nurses begin relationships
What are some strengths of functionalism?
– A reasonable attempt to explain the workings of society.
– 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
– explains how society can change overtime gradually
What are some criticisms of functionalism?
– Focuses on order and consensus and tends to ignore conflict within society.
– ignores how values may serve the needs/benefits of certain groups for example how value consensus may serve the ruling class.
– post-modernists would argue that society is not unified and is rather fragmented people in society pick and mix their values therefore there is no value consensus
What is the history of the new right?
A political philosophy that influenced right wing politics in both the USA and Britain from the 1980s onwards
What is the new right based on?
Free market economics the idea of sink or swim
What are two ideas central to the new right?
– A stress on the freedom of the individual: this involves learning to stand on your own 2 feet supporting a free market and competition which encourages an enterprise culture that increases wealth.
– stress on conservative values and sense of community: this involves strengthening law and order to ensure conformity as well as ensuring a return to traditional family values to encourage a return to morality
what does Charles Murray argue?
– The underclass is a result of overgenerous welfare policies. There are three ideas central to his work.
what did Charles Murray argue about the underclass?
The underclass are a group at the bottom of the stratification system, which is characterised by crime family instability and unemployment
What did Charles Murray argue about dependency culture?
The well first date makes people lazy. They rely on welfare benefits and this takes away the incentive to work.
What did Charles Murray argue about traditional values?
Return to these is needed across all social institutions of society is to improve
What are some strengths of the new right approach?
– It is credible and believable plausible and accepted hence the success of UKIP in recent elections.
– there is a clear link between theory and social policy.
– highlights the role of individual responsibility
what are some weaknesses of the new right approach?
– Marxists argue that new policies generate inequality. The free market would cause the rich to get richer.
– feminists argue that the stresses on traditional family values is a step backwards for society return to patriarchal values and oppression.
– individual poverty blaming the poor for circumstances beyond their control.
