Functionalist theory

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What type of theory is functionalism
Macro, structural, consensus
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Who is behind social solidarity and social unity theory?
Durkheim (1858-1917)
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What is social solidarity?
share same core values - without chaos because individuals would put own selfish needs first
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What type of society is Mechanical solidarity in?
pre-modern society, pre-industrial society
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What is Mechanical solidarity?
individuals are essentially alike - they feel the same emotions and held the same values as sacred
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Provide a reason to do with property and labour is there mechanical solidarity?
Little specialisation of labour, collective feelings dominate property is collectively owned
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What is social order/consensus achieved in a Mechanical society?
through repressive laws and strong religion - both acting swiftly against those who go against the norms in society
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What type of society is organic solidarity?
modern and industrial society
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What is organic solidarity?
consensus/social order comes from the differentiation between individuals - work is more complex and specialized
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What does individuals being inter-dependent?
social order rests on people doing different things
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provide an example, related to work
division of labour
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in a modern society why does Durkheim believe it is very important social solidary is maintained? (vulnerable)
because there is a rise of egotism/anomie because in advanced societies there is a greater emphasis on individualism
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What is the most important function of society according to Durkheim?
social order
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For example, how does Durkheim argue social order and religion?
religion unties individuals in a collective conscience giving us social unity
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What does Durkheim believe social order is maintained through?
social insitutions
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what are functional prerequisites?
basic needs such as food clothes etc?
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How Durkheim is relevant to our understanding of todays society?
....
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What is positivism and science related to today and functionalism?
the belief system of science gets considerable status
many governments rely on scientific research to collect data that can be quantified and trends and patterns identified eg. education
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How is social solidarity related to today?
increase in anomie in modern societies and there would be growing numbers who do not condemn to policies shared values
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provide an example
number of feral youths (hoodies etc.) who are foul and have unacceptable behavior with no regard for norms or the justice system
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However, why do Marxists disagree with Durheim?
functional for its inability to explain conflict and change is not harmonious but rather than based off exploration, stability is simply a result of tr R/C presenting social change
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What is the view?
rose tinted
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Parson (1902-1972)
social order and other prerequisites
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Why does Parsons believe a value consenus forms and is important?
the fundamental integration of our principle in society, members tend to have the same values, tends to be the basis of society, shared values give us an idea of what is worthwhile. Goals give us direction
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What is a social Equilibrium?
all social institutions are in balance
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What are the 2 ways social Equilibrium is maintained?
Socialization of norms and values, the social institutions acting as mechanisms of social control
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What are the 4 functional prerequisites?
society is a system and any social system has four basic functional prerequisites - adaptation goal attainment, integration pattern maintenance
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What is this known as?
AGIL
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What is the Adaptation of the problem dealt with as an institution?
The social system meets its member material needs through economic sub-system (factories, shops, banks)
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How is the problem of Goal attainment dealt with as an institution?
society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. This is a political sub-system
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How is the problem of integration dealt with as an institution?
the different parts of the subsystem must be integrated together to pursue shared goals - this is the role of the sub-system of religion education, etc
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How is the problem of latency (maintain basic values) dealt with as an institution?
The processes maintain society over time. The family provides patterns of maintenance (primary socialization and stabilisation of adult personalities)
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What does Parsons believe social change is in societies?
the gradual and evolutionary process of increasing complexity and structural differentiation
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What do societies move from over time?
simple to compex
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What do social institutions perform in simple structured societies compared ot complex?
may perform many functions such as the church providing health care and education to structural differentiation
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What is structural differentiation?
institutions become specialized like the church only focusing on spiritual needs
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However, what do critics mean when they argue functionalism is teleological?
the idea that things exist because of its function
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explain using the example of the family
functionalists claim that the family exists to socialize the children
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What do critics believe the real explanation is (don't understand it just write it )
the cause must come from the effects
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Merton (1910-2003)
Refining Functionalism
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Whose work does Metons work upon?
Durkheim
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How many dimensions does Merton argue social insitutions have?
3
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What 2 things does Merton argue we have to look at to fully understand a social institution ?
Manifest function and Latent function
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What is the Manifest function?
intended function
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What is the Latent function?
unintended function
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What does Merton challenge?
the assumptions of fucntioanlist
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How does Merton criticise the functionalist assumption?
in a modern society, it is unlikely there is functional unities between social institutions is doubtful
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Provide an example relating to religion
religion has less power and influence over the political system
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How does Merton criticise the functionalist claim that all social institutions perform positively?
incorrect as some institutions may be dysfunctional or non-functional
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Provide 2 examples
dictatorship as a political system and secularisation
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How does Merton criticize functionalists argue social institutions are indispensable?
political ideology had the ability to render religion as obsolete eg. Communist Russia
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Criticism of Functionalist theory
....
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Action perspective criticisms
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How does Wrong (1961) criticize functionalism?
functionalism is 'over socialised' or deterministic view the individual
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What does functionalism assume about individuals ?
they have no free will and are in the control of the puppet master as the social system
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rather than individuals being shaped by society, what do Action theorists believe?
individuals create society through their own actions
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How do postmodernists argue functionalists is outdated?
cannit account for the diversity and instability that is in today's world as the world is fragmented
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Who is behind social solidarity and social unity theory?

Back

Durkheim (1858-1917)

Card 3

Front

What is social solidarity?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What type of society is Mechanical solidarity in?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is Mechanical solidarity?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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