Functionalism - Basic Ideas

FUNCTIONALISM - AQA 2021 

BASIC IDEAS

- Structural consensus theory - agree there's a social structure that shapes individuals through socialisation and tbat in order for a society to be successful it needs people to agree around a set of shared norms and values (VALUE CONSENSUS). That will allow them to cooperate and work together to achieve common goals. 

- A successful society needs to have a stable social structure - different institutions perform unique functions that contribute to maintenance of the society in a way that different organs perform different functions in order to keep the body alive (ORGANIC ANALOGY). 

- Social life is organised in a way that means the family can socialise the young and meet their emotional needs and school teaches us broader life skills and the workplace is…