Merton's Internal Critique of Functionalism

BY THE WAY HES A FUNCTIONALIST INTERNAL CRITICSM

using one word what does merton critic about parsons

assumptions

list the 3 assumptions of parsons that Merton critics

indispensability

functional unity

universal functionalism

indispensability

what did parsons assume

what does Merton argue

assumes everything in society and its institution is functionally indispensable in its existing form

Merton argues that its an untested assumption and functional alternatives

give an example for indispensability

parsons states primary socialisation is preformed best by the nuclear family however it may be one parent families that do it better

functional unity

what parsons assumes

what does Merton argue

parsons assumes that all parts of society are tightly intergrate into a unity and each part is functional for all the rest, and that a ripple effect can occur to other parts

neither of these assumptions are necessarily true

complex modern societies have many parts, some which one distantly related

some parts may have functional autonomy instead of functional unity ex. structure banking and the rules of netball

universal functionalism

what parsons assumes

what does Merton argue

parsons assumes that everything in society preforms a positive function for society as a whole, yet some things may functional for some groups and dysfunctional for others

some groups may have the power to keep arrangement in place that benefit them at the expense of others also causing marginalisation

what is the example Merton used to contribute the the distinction to manifest and latent

Hopi Indians - preform rain dance in times of drought in hope for rain to be magically produced

what type of function is the example of the Hopi Indians

manifest and intended function

what is the unintended/ latent function of the example of the Hopi Indians

promoting a sense of solidarity in times of hardship

overall, what is Merton’s distinction useful in?

in revealing the hidden connections between social phenomena, which the actors themselves may not be aware of