theory and methods - functionalism

Question 1

Around what time was the Enlightenment?

Answer 1

1715-1789 approx

Question 2

What period is referred to as modernity?

Answer 2

1700s to 1960 approx

Question 3

What period is referred to as postmodernity?

Answer 3

1960 - present day

Question 4

What characterises the period of modernity?

Answer 4

• development of sociology
• growth in rational, scientific understanding and explanations

Question 5

Who are some key sociological thinkers during the period of modernity?

Answer 5

• Auguste Comte
• Emile Durkheim
• Max Weber
• Karl Marx

Question 6

What did early sociologists attempt to do?

Answer 6

• apply the same scientific principles which were being applied to nature to the organisation of human societies
• sociology emerges as a ’science’

Question 7

What is meant by consensus theory?

Answer 7

• society is harmonious/ social order is maintained through widespread agreement, consensus
• functionalism

Question 8

What is meant by conflict theory?

Answer 8

• society is conflict ridden and unstable/ emphasises social differences
• inequalities/ power and control by dominant groups
• elite rule/ dominant ideologies
• marxism

Question 9

What are the three main approaches to sociology?

Answer 9

• structuralism
• social action/ interpretivist
• integrated approaches

Question 10

What is meant by structuralism?

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

What is the functionalist view of society?

Answer 11

• sees society as stable, harmonious and integrated held together through social cohesion and value consensus

Question 12

What was Emile Durkheim concerned with?

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

What is meant by anomie?

Answer 13

• in times where there is too much rapid change which undermines old norms creates a state of normlessness which can threaten social cohesion

Question 14

What are social facts?

Answer 14

• institutions, statuses, roles, laws, beliefs, population distribution, urbanisation, etc
• aspects of social life that shape the behaviour of individuals

Question 15

What did Durkheim’s study of suicide find?

Answer 15

• using the comparative method he concluded that people were more likely to commit suicide if they were male, Protestant and unmarried

Question 16

What did Parsons argue?

Answer 16

• There are two types of society: traditional and modern

Question 17

What characterises a traditional society?

Answer 17

put collective needs first, status is ascribed

Question 18

What characterises a modern society?

Answer 18

The pursuit of individual needs – status is more likely to be achieved

Question 19

what are the two needs of society according to Parsons?

Answer 19

Instrumental needs and expressive needs

Question 20

What is meant by adaptation?

Answer 20

The social system meets its members material needs through an economic subsystem

Question 21

What is meant by goal attainment?

Answer 21

Society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. This is the function of the political subsystem through institutions such as parliament.

Question 22

What is meant by integration?

Answer 22

The different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals – the function of religion, media education, et cetera

Question 23

What is meant by latency?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

what does Merton say about indispensability?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

what does Merton say about functional unity?

Answer 25

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)

Question 26

What does Merton say about universal functionalism?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

what does Merton say about manifest (apparent) and latent (hidden) functions?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What are some strengths of functionalism?

Answer 28

– 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

Question 29

What are some criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 29

– 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

Question 30

What is the history of the new right?

Answer 30

A political philosophy that influenced right wing politics in both the USA and Britain from the 1980s onwards

Question 31

What is the new right based on?

Answer 31

Free market economics the idea of sink or swim

Question 32

What are two ideas central to the new right?

Answer 32

– 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

Question 33

what does Charles Murray argue?

Answer 33

– The underclass is a result of overgenerous welfare policies. There are three ideas central to his work.

Question 34

what did Charles Murray argue about the underclass?

Answer 34

The underclass are a group at the bottom of the stratification system, which is characterised by crime family instability and unemployment

Question 35

What did Charles Murray argue about dependency culture?

Answer 35

The well first date makes people lazy. They rely on welfare benefits and this takes away the incentive to work.

Question 36

What did Charles Murray argue about traditional values?

Answer 36

Return to these is needed across all social institutions of society is to improve

Question 37

What are some strengths of the new right approach?

Answer 37

– 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

Question 38

what are some weaknesses of the new right approach?

Answer 38

– 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.