Assess the usefulness of functionalist theory to an understanding of society as a functional unit ? (33 Marks) As a structural theory‚ Functionalism sees social structure or the organisation of society as more important than the individual. Functionalism is a top down theory. Individuals are born into society and become the product of all the social influences around them as they are socialised by various institutions such as the family‚ education‚ media and religion. Theory of Talcott Parsons
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‘Assess the functionalist view of the family?’ Functionalist looks at society on a macro level. It is a consensus theory and structuralists prefer to use functionalism as it agrees with their ideals and models and they prefer to look at society as a whole. Functionalists are interested in studying what family is most functional. This essay will assess how functionalists view point of the family by exploring Murdock‚ Comte‚ Parsons and Durkheim‚ the founder of functionalism‚ ideas and evaluating
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work together so that the body can survive. That is the idea of functionalism. Everything and everyone has a purpose that helps society. Take Walmart for example. Its existence serves an important function. All the different components of the functionalist perspective are seen in Walmart. Manifest functions are the obvious reasons why something exist‚ in this case Walmart. Walmart is a one stop shop. It has clothes‚ food‚ medicine‚ gas‚ and even a place that fix cars. It was created to have everything
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Functionalist and Symbolic Interactionist Functionalist and Symbolic Interactionist SO1050 Sociology Functionalist‚ also known as structural functionalism because of its views on the ways social structures accompanies social needs. In perspective‚ functionalism structures social influences by what is visible and in demand now. (Boundless.com/Sociology)Functionalism has been criticized for downplaying the role of individual action
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Examine Functionalists explanations of the family (24 marks) Functionalists believe that society is based on a set of shared values and norms; this is known as a value consensus. These norms and values socialize its members‚ which enables them to cooperate with each other so society’s needs are met‚ this creates social order. It offers a structural and macro view of the family which is top down. Functionalists see society as being similar to a biological organism for example the human body.
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Discuss the functionalist view of religion‚ including both the functions and dysfunction it may serve. Functionalists believe that religion is a conservative force‚ and an institution which adds to the requirements of society. That religion fulfills basic human needs by providing framework within which society may function in harmony; religion contributes to society’s equilibrium. They say it ultimately operates as an agency of socialization. Durkheim (1912) said that all societies are separated
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A functionalist view of stratification views stratification as necessary for a society to function efficiently which enables it to reach its full potential economically and socially. Functionalists view society as a set of interconnected parts which work together to form a whole. (Haralambos et al 1996) Institutions are part of the social system they are a prime contributor to the maintenance of a society. The functionalist view has been criticised‚ this essay seeks to explore some of these criticisms
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Durkheim’s functionalist theory -Functionalists see society as based on value consensus (members of society sharing common culture). -Culture: Set of shared norms (rules)‚ values‚ beliefs and goals shared culture produces social solidarity and binding people together. -Functionalists argue there are two mechanisms needed for society to achieve solidarity: Socialisation: instils the shared culture into its members ensuring we internalise the same norms and values‚ and meet society’s requirements
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Discuss the functionalist perspective on religion. (20 marks) The functionalist perspective is a consensus theory; it believes that society has a set of shared values and beliefs. Durkheim was the 1st functionalist to develop the idea that religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus‚ order and solidarity. The anthropologist‚ Malinowski‚ built on Durkheim’s idea and expanded with his own ideas. The functionalists‚ Parsons and Bellah later added their own
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This period in history reflected the principles of functionalist theory‚ which believed that each part of society served a place and contributed to the stability of society as a whole. The post WWII generation was predisposed to resonate with the theories of Robert K Merton‚ a sociologist who emphasized middle range theory‚ criticized grand theorists in sociology‚ and exemplified functionalist theory. The “organic” metaphor in functionalist theory looked at society as a giant organism that could
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