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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Functionalism is a predominant perspective.The functionalists see education as a miniature society‚ where the individual develops a sense of commitment to the social group; it is a place to learn rules where the individual learns to conform to societies cultural norms and values. The functionalist perspectives of Emile Durkheim are‚ he believed that the major function of education was the transmission of societies norms and values. This would allow an advanced division of labour‚ which contributes
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Using the Functionalist perspective discuss how sport can be used as an avenue for socialisation and social mobility Introduction Sports! There are very small areas in society that can generate such passion and interest and elevate its participants to almost divine status and raise them from humble beginnings to lords and ladies of the manner. For this reason sports can be used as a powerful medium for socialisation; although not exclusively as other social interactions can have the same results
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Examine the functionalist’s 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
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Criticisms 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
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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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in common is that it provides the same benefits which are security‚socialisation and companisionship. This essay will highlight the different types of family in our society observe the different sociological perspectives of the family by Functionalist‚ Marxist and Feminists. Functionalist writer Durkheim believe that society is like the human body‚as each part has a specific function which contributes to the running and social order of society. Thus it is a value consensus theory as individuals
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The functional perspective on deviance maintains that our society is a system of social institutions‚ that work together to make up whole. These institutions are based on our needs and balance each other to give our norms and morals significance. If some part of this whole is not useful‚ it will disappear; and in the same way if something is absent‚ but needed‚ it will be created. Deviant behavior is necessary in our society‚ because it provides justification for our norms. If there were no deviance
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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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