Introductions - Structural Functionalism

Question 1

Structural functionalism

Answer 1

• The basic assumption that human behaviour is guided by the social system (society) we occupy and/or stable patterns of behaviour that we learn from our social environment; Social systems are made up of interconnected institutions that function to maintain order and/or stability
• Structural functionalism examines how macro-level social structures & institutions work together to generate patterns of behaviour
• About maintaining social order

Question 2

Structural Functionalism Clock

Answer 2

A clock for institutions/social systems where they interact & connect together in a specific way to create & maintain behaviours. What happens when 1 gear goes amiss, how do institutions react?

Question 3

Durkheim’s Structural Functionalism

Answer 3

• Built off the theoretical and methodological foundations from Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)
• Durkheim defined sociology as the science of social facts (values go beyond indiv, but can inhibit social control)
• Humans are predictable and controllable through the power of social facts that exist along individual manifestations (agency)

Question 4

Institutions

Answer 4

(ex. Healthcare system) Explained by the types of tasks they perform, the functions they serve for other institutions, and/or how they maintain order within a society

Question 5

The Five Distinguishing Principles of Structural Functionalism

Answer 5

• Sociology aims to discover and explain the impact of social facts on human behaviour, attitudes, and feelings
• Social facts are to be treated as things that are real and external to human actions, which determines human behaviour
• Social facts can be seen in aspects of the social structure such as the norms associated with structural locations (ex. Gender, race, status, class) that guide behaviour through roles enacted in social institutions such as the family, the economy, etc. and in social interactions such as in friendships, marriage, or at work.
• Sociology is a science that seeks to describe the world in a series of universal causal laws related to the operations of social facts and considers behaviour as objective & quantitative measure through scientific methods (positivist movement)

Question 6

How are individuals and institutions arranged within a society

Answer 6

Social structures influence individual behaviour because institutions are linked to social roles (behaviour patterns we have attached to particular institutions; particular roles inhibit particular actions in particular institutions); It is collectively agreed upon

Question 7

Sick Role

Answer 7

• Being sick is considered taking a role, as it occupies a unique social position
• Talcott Parsons was one of the most influential medical sociology scholars under the structural functionalist paradigm; his work highlighted importance of ‘sick role’ in relation to culture, social structure, institutions and indiv behaviour)
• Under this paradigm, the sick role ensures that the person who is sick know how to behave (and to be treated)

Question 8

Parsons 3 Criteria for being sick

Answer 8

1) Being sick is not your fault
2) Exempt from ordinary life
3) Seek medical attention if illness merits it (it is your responsibility)

Question 9

4 aspects of the institutionalized expectation system relative to the sick role (Parsons)

Answer 9

• Major Rights:
  1) Exempt from responsibility for ill condition
  2) If diagnosed w illness, indiv is exempt from normal social role behaviours
• Major Duties
  3) Try to get well & resume normal social roles
  4) Seek competent help & cooperate the process of getting help
  It is our role to get the clock moving again

Question 10

4 Critiques of Parsons Sick Role

Answer 10

1) Does not include chronic illness
2) Ignores psychosocial conditions (like mental health)
3) Underestimates importance of indivs close social network
4) Fails to take into account other social factors and neglects modern capitalism capitalism of healthcare accessibility