1
Q
What is Parson’s value consensus?
A
- shared norms and values
- social order is only possible if people agree on these values
2
Q
What is Parson’s organic analogy?
A
- the idea that society works like a human body, with different systems to meet different needs
3
Q
What are the two mechanisms to Parson’s central value system?
A
- socialisation – individuals are taught to want to do what is needed to be done. The norms and values are internalised
- social control – positive sanctions reward conformity and negative ones punish deviance
4
Q
How does social change support the organic analogy?
A
- the shift from traditional societies to modern societies shows how the systems adapt to the new needs
5
Q
What is an evaluation to the functionalist view of society?
A
- logical criticism – functionalists say things exist because of their function however a real explanation should identify somethings cause.
- conflict perspective criticism – society is not harmonious. This view is harmful as it legitimises inequality
- action perspective criticism – functionalists view people as puppets on strings who have no free will. Individuals create society not the other way round
- postmodernist criticism – todays society is so fragmented that no meta narrative can explain society
