Functionalist Theory & Methods

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  • Functionalism
    • Merton
      • in a complex independent social system there is scope for things to go wrong
        • dysfunction describes a situation where some parts of social structure don't work as intended can be negative consequence for society
      • latent functions were unrecognised or unintended outcomes
      • manifest functions were recognised or intended outcomes of an individual or institution
      • Merton criticised Parsons not all social institutions perform beneficial functions for everyone
        • Parsons
          • organic analogy
            • compared how society functions with how the human body functions
              • subsystems of the body represent the subsystems of society
          • GAIL
            • Adaptation
              • adapting to environment, providing basic necessities for human existence
            • Intergration
            • Goal attainment
            • Latency
              • minimising social tensions and interpersonal conflicts which may prevent society functioning
                • family
    • Durkheim
      • people are selfish without consensus society would collapse into chaos collective conscience
      • placed great importance on role of family & education in socialising people
      • social change occurs when new functions emerge and society needs to adapt
        • a change in one part results in a change somewhere else but the system will remain balanced
    • Parsons
      • organic analogy
        • compared how society functions with how the human body functions
          • subsystems of the body represent the subsystems of society
      • GAIL
        • Adaptation
          • adapting to environment, providing basic necessities for human existence
        • Intergration
        • Goal attainment
        • Latency
          • minimising social tensions and interpersonal conflicts which may prevent society functioning
            • family
    • Functionalism & The New Right
      • shares the emphasis on importance of socialisation into shared values for the maintenance of social stability
      • lays importance on the role of traditional institutions
      • condemns anything against seen as threatening core values or undermining of core functions of institutions
      • disagree with the welfare state because it encourages over dependence

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