Functionalism

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Key Terms and Theorists

Key Theorists:

Parsons

Durkheim

Key Terms:

adaptation - a need of the social system; the social system meeting members' material needs through the economic sub-system

functions - role of a particular thing

goal attainment - a need of the social system; society needs to set goals and have resources to achieve them, through the political sub-system

integration - a need of the social system; different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals, this is achieved through social institutions such as the media, religion and education

latency - a need of the social system; processes that maintain society over time, e.g. the kinship sub-system (family) perform pattern maintenance and tension management

socialisation - learning norms and values of your culture

social control - ways society gets us to obey shared norms

social order - cooperation of individuals to obey norms and values and work towards shared goals

system - an organised structure of interlinked parts

system needs - things that are necessary for the system to keep working

value consensus - shared values on what is important in society

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The Organic Analogy

Each social institution is like an organ in the human body. Each one has a different function to keep the body functioning properly. Likewise, social institutions (e.g. education, the state) must perform different functions for society to remain integrated and achieve its goals.

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Summary