functionalism

aqa a-level sociology theories and methods paper 1 and paper 3 functionalism

what kind of theory is functionalism?

a consensus, structural theory

what are social facts?

thing such as institutions, norms and values which exist external to the individual and constrain the individual

what does durkheim believe about society?

• society influences the behaviour of the individual

• social solidarity is achieved and maintained through socialisation and without this, society can fall into anomie

what is the organic analogy?

talcott parsons’ theory that likens society to the human body

what are the 3 similarities between society and biological organisms?

• both are systems

• systems have needs

• functions

what are the two means of maintaining value consensus and social order?

formal and informal social control

what is goal attainment?

society sets goals and decisions about how power and economic resources are allocated

what are the 4 basic needs of society?

• goal attainment (political)

• adaptation (economic)

• integration (social)

• latency (pattern maintenance and tension management)

what is latency?

the unstated consequences of actions

what is pattern maintenance?

maintaining value consensus through socialisation

what is tension management?

opportunities to release tension in a safe way

what is integration?

specialist institutions develop to reduce conflict in society e.g. education creates a sense of belonging

what is adaptation?

every society has to provide for the needs of its members in order for the society to survive

what are merton’s criticisms of parson’s assumptions?

• indispensability - there ARE functional alternatives

• functional unity - not all institutions are tightly linked

• universal functionalism - dysfunction exists

what are the logical criticisms of functionalism?

• its teleological

• its contradictory (functional and dysfunctional)

• unscientific (impossible to falsify or verify)

what are the conflict perspective criticisms of functionalism?

• unable to explain conflict and change

• conservative ideology that maintains the status-quo

• legitimises the position of the powerful

what are the action perspective criticisms of functionalism?

• wrong (1961) - deterministic

• reifies society

what are the postmodern perspective criticisms of functionalism?

• unable to explain diversity and instability

• outdated due to being a meta-narrative

what is formal social control?

official groups who enforce society’s laws. such as the CJS and the police

what is informal social control?

other social groups such as family and peers who keep us in line through punishment and ostracization

what is a manifest function?

the intended function of a social institution

what is a latent function?

the unintended function of a social institution