Answers to functionalism

Q: What is the functionalist perspective in sociology?

A: A theory that sees society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability and social order.

Q: Who coined the term functionalism and when?

A: Émile Durkheim in 1895.

Q: What do functionalists believe the role of the family is?

A: To perform key functions such as reproduction, socialisation of children, emotional support, .

Q: What did Talcott Parsons say about the nuclear family?

“The isolated nuclear family is particularly well-equipped to perform the essential functions in modern industrial society.”

Q: How did Durkheim describe the role of family in society?

Like “organs in a body,” each social institution contributes to the health and function of the whole society.

Why would functionalists view the decline of traditional families negatively?

Because it threatens the transmission of norms and values, weakens child socialisation, and risks societal instability.

What is anomie and how is it linked to changing family structures?

Anomie is a state of normlessness. Functionalists believe that weakened family structures can cause anomie by disrupting shared social expectations.