What type of theory is Functionalism
Macro, structural, consensus theory
What was traditional society based on
Mechanical society
What is mechanical solidarity
Very little division of labour, where all members are alike and there is a strong collective concscience
Who came up with mechanical solidarity
Durkheim
How is social order achieved
A central value system
Value consensus
Members of society agree on norms and values
Organic analogy
Parsons
Universalistic standards
Judged by the best standards
What are the 3 similarities between society and a biological organism
System organisms
System needs
Functions
System organisms
Both regulating systems of inter-related, interdependent parts that fit together in fixed ways. In the body these are parts are organs, in society they are institutions
System needs
Organisms have needs, if they are not met the organism will die. Functionalists see the social system as having basic needs that must be met if it is to survive, ie socialisation
Functions
The function of any part of a system is the contribution it makes to meeting the systems needs and thus ensuring its survival
2 ways of ensuring that individuals conform to shared norms and meet the systems system
Socialisation
Social control
Socialisation
Different agencies of socialisation all contribute to this process
Social control
Positive sanctions reward conforming, while negative ones punish deviance
Functional prerequisites
Parsons
AGIL Schema
Adaption
Goal attainment
Integration
Latency
Adaption
The social system meets its members material needs through the economic sub-system
Goal attainment
Society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. This is the function of the political sub-system, through institutions such as Parliament
Integration
The different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals. This is the role of the sub-system of religion, education and the media
Latency
Processes that maintain society over time. This kinship sub-system provides pattern maintenance and tension management
Adaption and goal attainment
Instrumental needs
Integration and latency
Expressive needs
Structural differentiation
Societies move from simple to complex structures
Dynamic equilibrium
Parsons
What is dynamic equilibrium
As a change occurs in one part of the system, it produces a compensatory change in other parts
Merton EVAL of Parsons
Indispensability
Functional unity
Universal functionalism
Indispensability
Parsons assumes that everything in society is functional indispensable in its existing form. Untested assumption and he points to the possibility of functional alternatives
Functional unity
Parsons assumes that all parts of society are tightly integrated into a single whole, and that each part is functional for the rest. Some parts may be interdependent.
Universal functionalism
Parsons assumes that everything in society performs positive functions for society as a whole. Some parts of society may be dysfunctional for certain groups
Logical EVAL
Teleological (exits because of its effect or function)
Marxist EVAL
Unable to explain conflict and change
Society is not a harmonious whole, based on exploitation and divided into classes with conflicting interests and unequal power
Social Action EVAL
Wrong criticises their deterministic view of the individual
Individuals have no free will or choice
Postmodernist EVAL
Functionalism assumes that society is stable and orderly, does not account for diversity and instability in postmodern society
Metanarrative