The Functionalist Theory of Society for A Level Sociology

Last Updated on August 1, 2019 by Karl Thompson

Functionalism as a Structural/Systems Theory – it focuses on the needs of the social system as a whole; it is a consensus theory – it sees society as based on shared values; it is also a modernist theory – it believes that research can find the truth and lead to progress. Functionalism is closely related to the New Right and Modernisation Theory.

Introduction/ Society as a System

Historical Context: the 1890s to the 1950s
Parsons uses the term ‘organic analogy’ to describe society.
Parsons sees three similarities between society and a biological organism: both are self-regulating, both have needs, both have sub-systems which perform specific functions.

Emile Durkheim’s Functionalism (1858 – 1917) – The first ever ‘Sociologist’

Concerned with understanding rapid social change brought about with industrialisation
Traditional society based on ‘mechanical solidarity’ and strong collective conscience

Industrial society = more complex causes change and anomie, challenge of modernity = how to achieve ‘organic solidarity’
Society exists as a separate entity above its members, as a system of ‘social facts’. It affects people irrespective of their individual thoughts and feelings.
Studied suicide to illustrate the above.

Talcott Parson’s Functionalism

Society is based on value consensus and social order
Society needs individuals to be integrated – this is achieved through socialisation and social control

The social system has four basic needs: instrumental (adaptation and goal attainment) and expressive (integration and latency)
Social change is gradual and evolutionary/ progressive – societies gradually evolve by moving from simple to more complex and larger structures.

Robert Merton’s Functionalism

Merton’s Three Internal Critiques of Functionalism: Not everything is necessary; not everything is interconnected; some institutions are dysfunctional
Merton’s ideas of Latent and Manifest Functions: Intended and unintended (so functions may be more complex than Parson’s suggests)

Overall Evaluations of Functionalism

Durkheim’s study on suicide – trends still true today
Governments view society as a system
Development theorists view society as a system.

X – Logical Criticisms – Functionalism is teleological – it explains an institutions existence in terms of its effect, and the effect may not be necessary
X – Conflict Perspectives – Functionalism ignores power inequality and exploitatio
X – Action Perspectives – Functionalism is deterministic

X – Postmodernist Critiques – society is not as stable, orderly, or predictable as Functionalists suggest.

Functionalism applied to other topic areas within sociology

The Functionalist perspective on the family

The four universal functions of the family
Functional fit theory
Primary socialisation

Stabilisation of adult personalities
Traditional gender role

The Functionalist perspective on education

Secondary socialisation
Social Solidarity
Skills for working

Meritocracy
Role Allocation

Modernisation Theory (Functionalism applied to development)

Aid injections and five stages of growth
Cultural Barriers
Capitalist/ Industrial model of development

Functionalist and Social Control theories of crime

Bonds of attachment theory
Positive Functions of Crime

Inevitability of crime

Functionalist research methods – Positivism

Social Facts

Objectivity
Official Statistics
Correlations

Generaliseablity
Science

If you like this sort of revision-thang, then why not contribute to my early retirement fund and buy these revision notes for Theory and Methods – they’re structured as in the picture below, and cost less than a pint of yer finest ale!

The notes cover the following sub-topics:

Functionalism

Marxism
Feminism
Social Action Theory

Postmodernism
Late Modernism
Sociology and Social Policy

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The Functionalist Perspective on Society – Summary Grid covering the Functionalist perspective on the family, education, crime and global development (modernisation theory)

The Functionalist Perspective on Society – Class Notes

Marxist Theory for second year sociology – Knowledge Check List