Functionalism

What is functionalism in a nutshell?

It is a structural consensus theory meaning society is a structure of institutions, norms and values that operates on shared beliefs and benefits both individuals and society. The source of this consensus is socialisation. They take a macro approach.

What are Durkheim’s four key ideas?

Organic analogy, value consensus, collective conscience, anomie

Explain what is meant by Durkheim’s organic analogy.

Durkheim compares society to a human body where different institutions are like organs each with specialised functions. Each institution is indespensible and interdependent for the whole society to function adequately just like organs in a human body. Also, both organs and institutions can get ‘sick’, can change and adapt and have basic needs.

Explain what Durkheim meant by a value consensus and a collective conscience.

A value consensus is shared norms and values in a society that create social stability which is achieved through socialisation. A collective conscience is the societal bond that is created through a value consensus.

What is anomie according to Durkheim?

A state of normlessness or confusion in society when there is too much individual freedom which can lead to disconnection, deviance and social instability.

Who later added to Durkheim’s theories?

Talcott Parsons 1902-1979

What was Parson’s key idea?

That society has 4 functional prerequisites that need to be fulfilled by different institutions for society to be in equilibrium.

Explain Parsons AGIL model.

Adaptation - in order to survive any society needs the basics of food and shelter to be able to adapt to the environment (provided by a functioning economy)

Goal attainment- societies need to provide some sort of collective goals for its members to aspire to (goals set by the political system who also provide the resources laws and other institutional mechanisms for these goals to be met)

Integration- achieving social cohesion, can society make all of its parts work together (supported by religion, education, media)

Latency- socialise the young into shared values (provided by institutions like education, family and religion).

What are strengths of functionalism?

• it helps explain social stability/social order

• it helps explain how/why societies become dysfunctional

What are some external critiques of functionalism?

• it is unscientific. functionalist views cannot be tested meaning it is unfalsifiable. for example, sees deviance as both dysfunctional and functional which cannot be falsified and so unscientific

• ignores conflict and exploitation. marxists argue that society is not a harmonious whole but is based on exploitation and divided into classes. stability is just the result of the bourgeoisie being able to prevent change through coercion.

• it is too idealistic. it does not account for the diversity and instability that exist in today’s postmodern society. it assumes society is stable and orderly and so ignored the negative outcomes e.g. dark side of the family.

• it reified society. functionalism treats society as a distinct ‘thing’. the action approach argues society is not a thing with its own independent existence. the only social reality is the one that individuals construct by giving meaning to their world.

Which functionalist writer criticises functionalism?

Robert k merton

What are the internal critiques of functionalism?

• it assumes indispensability which is not strictly true as there are functional alternatives e.g. religious functions can be performed in other ways like civil religion or football, during covid families educated children not schools

• it assumes functional unity i.e. interdependence which is not strictly true as some institutions have distant relations e.g. sports/leasure and banking. just because one suffers doesnt always have a knock on effect.

• it assumes universal functionalism which is not strictly true as many are dysfunctional e.g. the dark side of the family, unemployment, terrorism etc.

What does Merton conclude about functionalism?

That there are also manifest functions (intended) as well as latent functions (unintended) and functionalists must study both.