Functionalist

Strengths

• the shaping influence of each social institution

• promote and maintains social order

• helps us to understand how society works together

Weaknesses

• ignores social class inequalities (Marxists)

• ignores gender inequalities (feminists)

• prevents social change as they focus on specified roles

• over emphasises impacts of social structures

• the idea that we are all bound together and one dysfunctional part will have negative affects for all (Merton)

• anomie is caused by people not performing there roles (Merton)

• not all institutions have positive functions

Key ideas

is a consensus theory that places importance on shared norms and values within society it suggests that societal structures shape individuals. Society should provide its members with social solidarity because without it there would be anomie.