Functionalism

Question 1

What are Durkheims main Functionalist Ideas?

Answer 1

• social solidarity and social order
• in modern society people are free and individual but also together
• saw society as existing above its members

Question 2

What is the Value consensus?

Answer 2

• shared culture, set of norms, value and beliefs
• socialisation- primary and secondary =teaching people to want to do something
• social control- positive sanctions- reward conformity + negative sanctions -> punish deviance

Question 3

What is the organic analogy according to Parsons?

Answer 3

• Society is like the body, different parts work together, wouldn’t work alone
• each part needs their own things to survive
• each part also has a function essential to survival

Question 4

What are the AGIL needs?

Answer 4

Basic needs of society
A- adaptation = government/economy
G- Goal Attainment = education/government
I- integration = religion/family/media
L- latency (emotional regulation) = family

Question 5

Critiques of the functionalist persepctive?

Answer 5

Only ‘one view’ or ‘one religion’ doesn’t have any diversity

Question 6

What is Mertons internal critique

Answer 6

Critiques parsons for making certain assumptions
indispensabilty
Assumption: everything is functionally indispensable
Alternative: ‘functional alternatives
functional unity
Assumption: all parts are tightly integrated
Alternative: ‘functional autonomy’
universal functionalism
Assumtion: everything in society performs a positive function
Alternative: ‘disfunction’

Question 7

What is functional autonomy according to Merton?

Answer 7

Sub-systems may change without having any effect on other parts of society

Question 8

External critiques of functionalism

Answer 8

G.H. Mead

Question 9

What is indispensability according to Merton?

Answer 9

Some parts of the social system are essential

Question 10

What is a functional alternative according to Merton?

Answer 10

An institution that may be performing a function just as effectively as another institution or sub-system

Question 11

What does it mean when a sub system is dysfunctional according to Merton?

Answer 11

A sub-system that may be functioning wrongly and facilitating deviance

Question 12

What is a latent function according to Merton?

Answer 12

A function that may be occurring but is not planned or expected

Question 13

What does it mean when a sub system in non functional according to Merton

Answer 13

An existing institution or sub-system that is performing no discernible function