Functionalism - 1.1

Question 1

Define the Core Beliefs of Functionalism

Answer 1

Functionalism is a ‘structural-consensus theory’ meaning that Functionalists argue that there is a social structure that shapes individual behavior through the process of socialization and that Functionalists believe that a successful society is based on ‘value consensus’ – people agree around a set of shared norms and values. This value consensus enables people to co-operate and to work together to achieve shared goals.

Question 2

Is Functionalism a Structural or Interpretive theory?

Answer 2

Structural

Question 3

Define Socialisation

Answer 3

Where we are taught the appropriate norms and values.

Question 4

Define Value Consensus and how it’s helpful

Answer 4

where people agree around a set of shared norms and values value consensus enables people to co-operate and to work together to achieve shared goals.

Question 5

Define Interdependent

Answer 5

Where everything is reliant upon each other

Question 6

How does Society work in a similar manner to the human body?

Answer 6

Just how the body is made up of specific organs that are interdependent and contribute to maintaining it by keeping it healthy. Specific institutions in society complete a similar function e.g. (Family, Education, Work) are interdependent for a smooth running of society if one of the institutions breaks down it will affect the whole of society.

Question 7

Give an example of how an instutuion in society helps society to keep functioning e.g. School and the Workplace

Answer 7

School helps teach Children socialisation as well as broader life skills. If there was no School to teach them these functions society will break down as if there was no school for example how would future workers pick up vital skills essential in the workplace, illustrating how society as a whole would break down.

Question 8

Define Anomie

Answer 8

The breakdown of norms and values in society.

Question 9

Emile Durkheim’s beliefs on Functionalism (Detailed).

Answer 9

1. Durkheim believes that Society shapes the individual - Social facts include such things as beliefs, norms, and values which are passed from generation to generation and shared by individuals in society e.g. by the Media, Religion, Family etc. From this point of view, it’s not the individual who shapes society, but society shaping the individual.
2. Durkheim argues that society teaches us Social Solidarity and Socialisation preventing anomie from occurring as institutions such as schools/workplaces would provide the ‘social glue’ which would make people feel like they belonged and teach children socialisation allowing society to function.

Question 10

Define Social Solidarity

Answer 10

The notion that people feel they belong to society, they feel part of a group.

Question 11

Emile Durkheim’s beliefs on Functionalism (Brief)

Answer 11

1. Durkheim believes that Society shapes the individual.

2. Durkheim argues that society teaches us Social Solidarity and Socialisation preventing anomie from occurring

Question 12

What are Parsons’ Four Imperatives/Prerequisites?

Answer 12

Adaptation
Goal Attainment
Intergration
Pattern Maintanence

Question 13

What is Adaptation in relation to Parsons’ Four Imperatives/Prerequisites?

Answer 13

Meeting material needs through the economic sub-system.

Question 14

What is Goal Attainment in relation to Parsons’ Four Imperatives/Prerequisites?

Answer 14

Allocating goals through the political subsystem Societies need to provide collective goals for it’s members to aspire to. Governments set goals such as Labour setting a target that 50% of school leavers would attend university.

Question 15

What is Intergration in relation to Parsons’ Four Imperatives/Prerequisites?

Answer 15

All societies need a legal system in order to mediate any conflict and therefore protect the social system from breaking down.

Question 16

What is Pattern Maintenance in relation to Parsons’ Four Imperatives/Prerequisites?

Answer 16

Maintain patterns and ease tension through the family/kinship subsystem

Question 17

What Family type did Parsons believe was best suited to teaching Primary Socialisation

Answer 17

Nuclear

Question 18

Talcott Parson’s Beliefs on Functionalism (Detailed)

Answer 18

1. Parsons believes that we should view society as a system working like a human body, arguing that institutions in society were like organs in the body – each performing specific functions that were necessary to the maintenance of the whole. According to Parsons, a social system has four needs that must be met for continued survival – These are adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and pattern maintenance .

Adaptation - Meeting material needs through the economic sub-system.

Goal Attainment – Allocating goals through the political subsystem Societies need to provide collective goals for it’s members to aspire to. Governments set goals such as Labour setting a target that 50% of school leavers would attend university.

Integration – all societies need a legal system in order to mediate any conflict and therefore protect the social system from breaking down.

Pattern Maintenance - Maintain patterns and ease tension through the family/kinship subsystem

2. Parsons believed in Value Consensus and Socialisation and Meritocracy - Parsons argued that social order was mainly achieved not through the rule of force, but through institutions promoting Value Consensus – which is agreement around shared values. Parsons argued that commitment to common values is the basis for order in society. The Family is responsible for providing ‘primary socialisation’ – teaching the basic norms and values of our society. Parsons believed the nuclear family was the best type of family for providing a stable upbringing for children, and the best type of family to provide moral guidance (the difference between right and wrong). Meritocracy means that those people who end up in lower-paid jobs accept inequality in society because they believe they at least had a fair chance to do better in life.

Question 19

Talcott Parson’s Beliefs on Functionalism (Brief)

Answer 19

1. Parsons believes that we should view society as a system working like a human body.
2. According to Parsons, a social system has four needs that must be met for continued survival – These are adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and Pattern Maintenance.
3. Parsons believed in Value Consensus and Socialisation and Meritocracy

Question 20

Criticisms of Functionalism

Answer 20

• Naive
• Overly Optimistic Theory
• Over emphasizes consensus
• Interactionist Dennis Wrong (1961) states this is an oversocialized view of people as puppets wrongly imply pupils passively accept everything and never rebel
• Struggles to adequately explain Social Change
• Ignores Widespread Conflict
• Finally, Functionalism can be criticized for having a deterministic view.

Question 21

Define Social Cohesion

Answer 21

Refers to the extent to which people in society are bound together and integrated and share common values.

For functionalists, achieving some level of social cohesion is one of the functions of the education system: secondary socialisation leading to social solidarity.