functionalism

organic analogy

Parsons identifies the similarities between society and a biological organism:

 

SYSTEM

Organisms and societies are both self-regulating system of interrelated parts that fit together in fixed ways. In the body, these are cells whereas in society these are institutions (education system, government etc).

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SYSTEM NEEDS

Organisms have needs (eg. nutrition), if these needs are not met, the organism will die. Functionalists see the social system as having basic needs (Eg. adequate socialisation) to maintain social order and survive.

 

FUNCTIONS

 The function for any system is based on the contribution it makes to meeting the system needs, which ensures its survival.

value consensus

Social order is achieved through a shared culture in a ‘central value system’.

​A culture is a set of norms, values, beliefs and goals shared by members of society, that provides the framework for cooperation between individuals, and allows them to define general goals, norms and values for society.

Social order is only possible if we conform to such norms and values. Parsons calls this value consensus.

integration of individuals

PARSONS. The system has two basic mechanisms for ensuring individuals conform to shared norms and meet systems needs (maintaining value consensus and social order):

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SOCIALISATION

The social system can ensure its needs are met by teaching individuals to internalise the norms and values through socialisation. Agents of socialisation include family, education system, media and religion.

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SOCIAL CONTROL

Positive sanctions reward conformity, negative ones punish deviance. (Eg. the value system stresses individual achievement through educational success, those who conform are rewarded with degrees).

4 basic needs of society

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.

ADAPTATION

The social system meets its members’ material needs through the economic sub-system.

INTERGRATION

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 media. social harmony

​LATENCY

Refers to the processes that maintain society over time. The kinship sub-system provides pattern maintenance (socialising individuals to perform societies roles) and tension management (a place to relieve stresses after work).

social change

• social change occurs when new functions of society are needed.
  In pre-industrial society skills taught by the family e.g. physical/manual, agricultural, machinery skills. Today skills we learn have changed to meet needs of a service sector and are learned through the education system.

• there are norms and values that have been established by the media.

• Due to all parts of society being linked, if one aspect evolves this effects the rest of the parts. This must happen so society can stay stable. Parsons called this structural differentiation.

type of theory

consensus structuralism