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Structural-functionalist theory
Structural-functionalist theory
Structural-functionalist theory
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The theory I chose to focus on is structural functionalism theory. The structural functionalism theory “explains the expectations of a society and the inability of the members of that society to stray away from those expectations. It focuses on the organization of a society and the relationship between the social units that make up that society. The theory provides general law and guidelines by which individuals are governed.” (ask.com, 2014) In Applerouth and Edles Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory 2nd edition textbook, there are two theorists that focus on structural functionalism. These theorists are Talcott C. Parsons and Robert K. Merton. Talcott Parsons’s was known as the greatest contributors, and specialist, of structural functionalism. Parsons’s theory was constructed from the AGIL system which is four functional imperatives. These imperatives include, “(1) The adaptive function, whereby a system adapts to its environment, (2) The goal-attainment function, i.e., how a system defines and achieves its goals, (3) The integrative function, or the regulation of the components of the system, (4) Latency, or pattern maintenance function, i.e., how motivation and the dimensions of culture that create and sustain motivation are stimulated.” (Mcgraw-hill.com) Once he developed this interchange system he began to focus on the evolution of societies. Parsons believed that action within the society cannot be viewed within isolation, but must be “understood as a “process in time,” or as a system.” (Edles, 2012, p. 328) Parsons’s used a number of terms to explain his theory. One term he used was unit act, which he used to refer to “hypothetical actor in a hypothetical situation bounded by an array of parameters and condi... ... middle of paper ... ...heorist had strong views on how to obtain and maintain social order, but in the end both theories somewhat achieve the same goal. Works Cited (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2014, from Mcgraw-hill.com: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072817186/student_view0/chapter7/chapter_summary.html (2014, April 29). Retrieved April 29, 2014, from ask.com: http://www.ask.com/question/what-is-structural-functional-theory (2012). In S. a. Edles, Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory (p. 328). Thousand Oaks: SAGE. Funtionalism and Parsons. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/n2202.htm Parson's Social System (Structural Functionalists). (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://faculty.babson.edu/krollag/org_site/encyclop/parsons.html Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_functionalism
One of the major criticisms of Kellys Personal Construct Theory is that he finds it hard to explain why constructs are laid down in the first place and why one would rigourously defend the threat to a core construct. What kick starts the Construct system into defending itself when motivation is clearly and explicitly lacking in his theory?
Schmalleger describes the social structure as interrelationships among society’s institutions (Schmalleger, 2012, p. 151). It is also the basic foundation that sociologists use to comprehend society. There hasn’t been an agreed upon specific definition of social structure, however there have been numerous people with various concepts of social structure, to include but not limited to S. F. Nade, Ginsberg, Radcliffe Brown, Talcott Parsons, Harry M. Johnson, and MacIver and Page. According to Shelly Shah in the Sociology Discussion, taking all of those concepts into consideration the following five (5) views may be concluded as it relates to the subject (Shah, n.d.).
Derived from the works of Durkheim Functionalism theory emphasizes the role each social institution plays in society and how society as a whole seek equilibrium when one dysfunctions. His idea was that society is more than the sum of its parts similar to how each organ serves a specific role and contributes to the body as a whole that is how social institutions work in society. High school for example is one of the major social institutions of society serving the primarily purpose of education. In High school the primary goal is to prepare students for extended education after graduation such as college or a technology oriented school. If students do not wish to attend any further educational institutions they can instead fill in service and minimal skill jobs in society. On a smaller scale high schools also aims to give students a more extensive overview of sexual education and contraceptive or abstinence approaches to sexual relations. Since education up to a high school level is mandatory in the United States high school provides a common ground and minimal standard for society educationally speaking. Without educated and well informed voters our system of government would fail due to the major part voters have in government decisions. If we had fewer people entering the higher level workforce since they didn’t continue with their education past high school our soc...
The functionalist paradigm focuses on the integration of society, and how society how its own groups which has their own functions to help improve the peoples lives. Functionalist paradigm fits in the category of macro-sociology, because it focuses on the patterns that shape an entire society. Functionalists believe that society is maintained through the thought of trust and consensus on moral values for ideal behavior. Working together will result in a stable social environment that will create equality. Conflicts or dysfunctions will be view as a disease in the social system. Social conflict paradigm believes that society is divided into many groups that have their own goals, and that certain parts of the world have the luck of benefiting economic dominan...
Functionalism views society as the stability and assimilation of a range of forces that function within it. While society is a separate entity with a life of its own, there are individual elements contributing to that stability. Functionalism as a sociological theory emphasizes assimilation rather than the dissociation of society. Therefore, the society is seen as a whole that is compromised of parts which give one another their identity and their function. The part, whether that is education, such as a school, or sports, such as a football team, operates in relation to the other parts, and cannot be entirely understood in isolation from the other parts. All the parts are interrelated, and when there is a disturbance in any one of the parts, is when you can see the interdependence. But what is important about this theory is that “there will always be some reorganization and tendency to restore equilibrium” (Wallace and Wolf 17). Functionalist do not believe it’s crucial that the people involved in the society to be aware of this interconnectedness anymore than the brain and heart consciously realize that they work together as an organism.
The idea of a “social structure” is probably one of the most popular and influential concepts in the world of sociology, with social theorists from Durkheim, Marx, Weber, and Parsons, all base their work off the fundamental idea that there is a large societal structure which pl...
Social structure in terms of sociology means “the distinctive, stable arrangement of institutions whereby human beings in a society interact and live together,”(Britannica School, “social structure.”) Social structure is not a behavior science, these structures are not formed by behavior differences, and this is proven by studies done by sociologist. Social structure can be thought as how people with different social entities interact with each other. Unlike social class where people are defined by the way they interact with people with different qualities, social structure is more on how it is all structured together and how those different social classes interact with one another. All the different social classes that exist are what a social structure is made up of. The term structure was first introduced to society...
Appelrouth, Scott, and Laura Desfor Edles. Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory: Text and Readings . Edition 2. Los Angeles: Pine Forge Press, 2012. 256-654. Print.
Theories in sociology sometime provide us with the different perspectives with which to view our social...
The structural-functionalist perspective looks at society as a complex system composed of various parts much like a living organism. Each aspect of society contributes to society's functioning as a whole. Social institutions play a key role in keeping a society stable. All societies need certain things to survive (Newman 2010).
Social Structure is the framework of social institution family, education, religion, and political views shape the relationships members of society have with one another. Social structure suggests that society prepares crime and those who commit the crime give it life. Structural theorist follows two general models of society, the consensus perspective or the conflict perspective.
Some sociologists believe that humans have the freedom to make their own choices and decide how they behave (agency) while others theorize that human behavior is determined and influenced by the patterns, arrangements, norms and guidelines of society (structure). The third position doesn’t choose either or but rather states that the two; structure and agency equally play a role in shaping human behaviour and attitudes; this perspective is known as structuration; developed by Giddens (as sited in Huyssteen, 2003).
Talcott Parson and Robert Merton are the central tenets of structural-functionalist. According to Calhoun “Functionalism (sometime called “structural –functionalism’) refers to the body of theory first developed in the 1930s and 1940s that treats society as a set of interdependent system. Theory rest on an organic analogy that likens a social system to a physical body, in which each subsystem is necessary to maintain the proper functioning of the entire organism. From a functionalist point of view, the key to understanding a social subsystem is thus to trace its function in the working of the whole.”(calhoun489) Structural functional theory describes society to be a complex system with various interdependent parts that work together to maintain stability. Each part of society has each of which have their own functions and work hand in hand to maintain social stability in the world.
It is suggested that there is less homogeneity and consensus than is generally acknowledge. Structural functionalism is Talcott Parsons made the most battered of all twentieth century sociological theories popular. These two features are held essentially together. First there is a minimum set of common values that are necessary for social order to exist. His intellectual predecessor, Emily Durkheim proposed that society has tomust exist on the basis ofbased on some sort of collective conscience, which is generally shared to a greater or lesser degree. Parsons identifies these subsystems as: Gaul attainment which equates to the political system; the adaptive subsystem which corresponds to the economy; the latency and pattern maintenance subsystem which includes all agents at socialization including the family, school and church. The latter compromises all the rules, values, laws and general prescriptions and prohibitions of behavior. According to Smith, Caribbean societies are plural societies in that they are” units in a political sense. Each is a political unit because it has a single government. He also recognizes that his critics tended to ignore this fact that some uniformity of law and government is essential if the society is to remain a political unit to
...heories. Because Durkheim came way before Parsons and died when Parsons was basically a teenager, it is mainly Parsons that built on the work of Durkheim, as pointed out in the above paragraphs through his various theories, however his theories and Durkheim’s are very much interrelated and have the potential to connect because both of these theorists were engaged in figuring out social order, and though their answers were not exactly the same, Durkheim’s division of labor and social facts and Parsons unit of act and social systems are very much relatable as has been explained above.