Functionalism Social Theory
Functionalism
Sunday, 10 March 2013
2:12 PM
* Macro world view (structures that shape society) * Family * Economy * Education * Social Stability, Consensus and Solidarity * Social institutions (e.g. the family, the economy, education) serve important functions for society * Manifest functions * Latent functions * Dysfunction in societies components can lead to conflict, deviance and chaos * ORDER --> STABILITY --> PRODUCTIVITY * Spencer's Theories: * Society as an organism * Darwinism * Survival of the fittest * Durkheim's Theories: * Solidarity holds society together * Mechanical (traditional) * Organic (modernity) * Key Concepts: * Collective conscience * Anomie: * State of normlessness * Times of change * People don't know how to act * Parsons' Theories: * Functional imperatives for social system to operate * Merton's Theories: * Manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions * Functional Alternatives * Paradigm of deviant behaviour * Strain Theory * When someone can't reach high goals (e.g. American Dream; Big house, two cars etc…) * Leads to crime (e.g. Theft to achieve wealth) * Political Influence: * Ideologies of state administrations and the capitalist order (e.g. USA) * Social Pathology Model * Society is an organism * Problems are 'sickness' in society * Problems arise when parts (structural and cultural elements) no longer function properly * Family issues (e.g. the demise of a marriage or family construction) * Social Disorganisation Model * Rapid social changes disrupt the norm * Creates a state of anomie What positive functions could social problems serve in society? * E.g. the ‘normality’ of crime:
Sunday, 10 March 2013
2:12 PM
* Macro world view (structures that shape society) * Family * Economy * Education * Social Stability, Consensus and Solidarity * Social institutions (e.g. the family, the economy, education) serve important functions for society * Manifest functions * Latent functions * Dysfunction in societies components can lead to conflict, deviance and chaos * ORDER --> STABILITY --> PRODUCTIVITY * Spencer's Theories: * Society as an organism * Darwinism * Survival of the fittest * Durkheim's Theories: * Solidarity holds society together * Mechanical (traditional) * Organic (modernity) * Key Concepts: * Collective conscience * Anomie: * State of normlessness * Times of change * People don't know how to act * Parsons' Theories: * Functional imperatives for social system to operate * Merton's Theories: * Manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions * Functional Alternatives * Paradigm of deviant behaviour * Strain Theory * When someone can't reach high goals (e.g. American Dream; Big house, two cars etc…) * Leads to crime (e.g. Theft to achieve wealth) * Political Influence: * Ideologies of state administrations and the capitalist order (e.g. USA) * Social Pathology Model * Society is an organism * Problems are 'sickness' in society * Problems arise when parts (structural and cultural elements) no longer function properly * Family issues (e.g. the demise of a marriage or family construction) * Social Disorganisation Model * Rapid social changes disrupt the norm * Creates a state of anomie What positive functions could social problems serve in society? * E.g. the ‘normality’ of crime: