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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perspective on the family. In this essay the functionalist’s perspective will be examined on their viewpoint of the family. Also Marxists‚ feminists and new rights perspective will be taken into consideration. The overall functionalist theory on the family is that it performs positive functions for individuals and society. One of the most influential functionalists was Talcott parson whose understanding of the family was that it provides the primary socialisation of children‚ which means to teach
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Asses the functionalist view that religion benefits both society as a whole and its individual members. 33marks The functionalist view of religion stems from Durkheim who said that society is like the human body. He argued that that religion reinforces collective conscience that leads to a unity within society as a whole and that each member of the society is joined in solidarity‚ therefore it acts as glue. It does so by reinforcing social norms and values that bring the community together. It
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of the functionalist view of the family Functionalism is the theory that all aspects of society serve a function‚ and these functions are necessary for society. Functionalists believe that the survival of society depends on all of the different aspects which is a like the human body. The human body has all different aspects of it working together to make it function (organs) and without one of these the body wouldn’t work‚ this is what functionalists believe society is like. Marxists are critical
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Outline and evaluate the functionalist view of the role of the family in society. 33 marks - 25 minutes. A family is a kinship - people related by blood or marriage. Functionalism is a macro theory which means it looks at a wider sociological view. It focuses on the importance of the nuclear family (mother and father married with children)‚ the universality of the family‚ changing roles and how the nuclear family “fits” into modern society. The theory of “fit” is argued by Parsons‚ where he believes
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Outline and assess the functionalists’ theory of social inequalities The Functionalist theory believes that Social stratification‚ including age inequality‚ is necessary for the functioning of a healthy society. Their perspective of social inequality is the belief that "inequality is not only inevitable but also necessary for the smooth functioning of society’. Functionalists believe that Age has become more important in modern society; age provides the function of social integration leading to
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Assess The Marxist view that the main role of the family is to serve the interests of capitalism The Marxist perspective comes from Frederick Engel‚ which it stressed on the patriarchal structure of families. Basically the Marxism suggested males are the dominant of the whole family. For instance‚ it’s essential to solve the problem of the inheritance of the private property in order to pass them to their children/heirs; in another words‚ it’s unlikely for women to be a part of the responsibilities
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outside the family. It seems to me that I would be more of a functionalist rather than a conflict theorist. In modern societies the boundaries between the functionalist theory and the conflict theory are less clearly defined than in the times of Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim. However the main class groups such as landowners and the working class can still be identified in most societies. It seems to me that I would be more of a functionalist rather than a conflict theorist. As our textbook says‚ "Functional
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From a Marxist perspective‚ would you argue that globalisation mitigates or deepens global inequality? Explain why. Marxism is arguably the approach best equipped to conceptualise and explain globalisation. Firstly Marx would argue that imperialism would bring to the less industrial countries the advantages of capitalist technologies such as railways and more efficient methods of production. Yet Marx argued that these developments would not be positive but rather a part of the same process
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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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