functionalism

(noun)

Structural functionalism, or simply functionalism, is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Related Terms

Examples of functionalism in the following topics:

  • Structural-Functionalism

    • Structural-Functionalism is a sociological theory that originally attempted to explain social institutions as collective means to meet individual biological needs (originally just functionalism).
    • As structural-functionalism thinks about elements of social life in relation to their present function and not their past functions, structural-functionalism has a difficult time explaining why a function of some element of society might change or how such change occurs.
    • Manifest functions are the intended functions of a phenomenon in a social system.
    • Latent functions are the unintended functions of a phenomenon in a social system.
    • An example of manifest and latent functions is education.

  • The Functionalist Perspective

    • Functionalism draws its inspiration from the ideas of Emile Durkheim.
    • Manifest functions are the intended functions of an institution or a phenomenon in a social system.
    • Latent functions are its unintended functions.
    • Latent functions may be undesirable, but unintended consequences, or manifestly dysfunctional institutions may have latent functions that explain their persistence.
    • The focus of functionalism on elements of social life in relation to their present function, and not their past functions, makes it difficult to use functionalism to explain why a function of some element of society might change, or how such change occurs.

  • The Functions of a Family

    • The primary function of the family is to perpetuate society, both biologically through procreation, and socially through socialization.
    • Given these functions, the nature of one's role in the family changes over time.
    • Producing offspring is not the only function of the family.
    • None of these functions are universal, but depend on the society in which the marriage takes place and endures.
    • From the point of view of the parents, the family is a family of procreation: The family functions to produce and socialize children

  • The Functionalist Perspective

    • Functionalists view the family unit as a construct that fulfills important functions and keeps society running smoothly.
    • Structural functionalism is a framework that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
    • Functionalism addresses society in terms of the function of its constituent elements: norms, customs, traditions and institutions.
    • Structural functionalism also took on the argument that the basic building block of society is the nuclear family, and that the clan is an outgrowth, not vice versa .
    • Explain the social functions of the family through the perspective of structural functionalism

  • The Functionalist Perspective: Motivating Qualified People

    • The high stress of their job, and low incentives to do it, seem to contradict the theory of functionalism.
    • The structural-functional approach to stratification asks the same question that it does of the other components of society: What function or purpose does it serve?
    • A job's functional importance is determined by the degree to which the job is unique and requires skill, meaning whether only a few, or many other people, can perform the same function adequately.
    • Are basketball players more functionally important than teachers?
    • Thus, functionalism can be critiqued on the basis that there is little connection between income and functional importance.

  • The Functionalist Perspective

    • Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements, namely: norms, customs, traditions, and institutions.
    • A common analogy, popularized by Herbert Spencer, presents these parts of society as "organs" that work toward the proper functioning of the "body" as a whole.
    • Functional prerequisites may also refer to the factors that allow a society to maintain social order.
    • According to structural functionalists, gender serves to maintain social order by providing and ensuring the stability of such functional prerequisites.
    • The feminist movement, which was on the rise at the same time that functionalism began to decline, takes the position that functionalism neglects the suppression of women within the family structure.

  • The Functionalist Perspective on Deviance

    • Functionalism claims that deviance help to create social stability by presenting explanations of non-normative and normative behaviors.
    • What function does deviance play in society?
    • This is a question asked by sociologists subscribing to the school of structural functionalism.
    • Structural functionalism has its roots in the very origins of sociological thought and the development of sociology as a discipline.
    • Though precursors of structural functionalism have been in existence since the mid-1800's, structural functionalism was solidified by Émile Durkheim in the late nineteenth century .

  • The Functionalist Perspective

    • In the functionalist model, Parsons argued that illness is a form of deviance that disturbs the social function of a society.
    • Structural functionalism, or simply functionalism, is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
    • This approach looks at both social structure and social functions.
    • Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms, customs, traditions, and institutions.
    • To most sociologists, functionalism is now obsolete.

  • Explaining Poverty: The Sociological Debate

    • Sociologists take two opposing approaches to explaining economic stratification: structural-functionalism and conflict theory.
    • Two classic sociological approaches to poverty and social stratification are structural-functionalism and conflict theory.
    • The structural-functionalist approach to stratification asks the question: what function or purpose does stratification serve?
    • The conflict-theory approach offers a critique of structural-functionalism.
    • First, the critique asserts that it is difficult to determine the functional importance of any job, as a system of interdependence makes every position necessary to the functioning of society.

  • Conflict Theory

    • A prominent sociological theory that is often contrasted with structural-functionalism is conflict theory.
    • Conflict theory was developed in part to illustrate the limitations of structural-functionalism.
    • One of the primary contributions conflict theory presents over the structural-functional approach is that it is ideally suited for explaining social change, a significant problem in the structural-functional approach.
    • This is particularly true of structural-functionalism and social-conflict theories.
    • Structural-functionalism focuses on equilibrium and solidarity; conflict-theory focuses on change and conflict.