Functionalism

Functionalism

1. consensus theory

   • Societies work best when their members agree on the fundamental principles of how society should be organised
   • There are shared norms and values
   • Social life can become more predictable. Creates social order in society

2. Emile Durkheim

   • Memebers of society need to feel a sense of social solidarity
   • Society is separate from members
     • Individual behaveiour is created by 'social facts' passed on by socialisation
   • Large modern societies are put at risk as people could loser their sense of belonging

3. Talcott Parsons

   • Socialisation is important in creating a calue consensus
   • Society is made up of separate but linked institutions that work in harmony
   • transmits shhared norms and values between different generations
   • Society has 4 essential needs (perequisites) required to keep the system going
     • G- goal attainment- institution put in place that makes sure society has the same goals and organises them.
       • government and political systems
     • A- adaptation- institutions put in place to support individuals to reach the goal society has set and to adapt to the environment.
       • economy
     • I- integration- institutions that help to unify all the other parts of society.
       • religion
     • L- latency and pattern- institutions that help to pass on shared culture of society.
       • family

4. organic analogy

   • society is like an organism in that it is made up of different organs, these represent the different insitutions.
   • Each institution is connected to the others.
   • each institution performs one or a number of essential functions
   • like an organism, if they don't all perform their function society will collapse and die unless the other institutions take over the functions of the one not preforming

5. evaluation

   • strengths
     • highlights how societies tend to operate more effectively when people can agree and co operate
     • stresses the importance of socialisation.
     • shows the importance of family.
     • it explains how the institutions are interlinked with each other and impact one another.
   • weaknesses
     • fails to explain conflict within society.
     • assumes that society operates for everyones benefit.
     • ignores the dark side of family life (violence, child abuse)
     • doesn't examine power inequalities.
     • does not account for deviant behaviour.