...Functionalism is a theory that views society as a whole. Functionalists believe that society is based on a value consensus – a set of shared norms and values – into which society socialises its members. This enables individuals to cooperate harmoniously to meet society’s needs and achieve shared goals. Functionalists regard society as a system with symbiotic parts, in that each part depends on each other to function efficiently. For such reasons they use an organic analogy to explain society. For example, just as organs such as the heart or lungs perform functions vital to the well being of the body as a whole, so the family meet some of society’s needs, such as the need to socialise children. Murdock argued that these functions are; economic needs such as food and shelter, reproduction (without which society could not continue), primary socialisation of the young into society’s shared norms and values and sex. He believes that those needs can only be achieved within a nuclear family. However, some sociologists would argue that these needs can be met in other ways than within the family. For example, other family types such as an extended family or institutions such as the Kibbutz in Israel can be used for primary socialisation and economic security. Other needs such as reproduction and sex can also be met by sperm donors or prostitution. Marxist and Feminist sociologists have criticised Murdock’s (1994) theory. They contend that functionalism ignores conflict and exploitation...
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...the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of families and households. Functionalism is a macro approach to society. It is based on a consensus that society as whole is run by and for the benefit of all its members. Early Functionalists such as Durkheim believed that society is made up of many institutions which work together to function. Regarding families, Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is best for society. Functionalists look at what the functions the family performs and they therefore say that the nuclear family is best for society. For example functionalists believe that traditional domestic roles (for the male to play an instrumental role as the breadwinner and the female to do the dual-burden) are necessary to ensure that children are socialised correctly with both male and female role models. Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is perfect for bringing up a geographically mobile workforce which allows families to move about for work easily, for example Functionalists believe during the industrial revolution nuclear families became more common as it was easier for families to move to an urban area in search of work than if it was for example an extended family. Conflict theories such as Marxism and Feminism challenge the Functionalism and the consensus of society by taking a more critical view. Social historians such as Laslett and Anderson also criticize the functionalist view of a ‘Functional Fit’ in the family. The main supporters...
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...sociologists believe that the family is important; a key institution in society as it performs vital necessities for each member within it and maintains order and stability within the community. According to Murdock and his study of 250 societies, the family provides the reproduction of the future generations and passes down vital norms and beliefs learnt for the future however another Functionalist, Parsons, argues that the family is affected by industrialisation and demands a geographically mobile workforce. Parsons also claims that the family allows the socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities, therefore passing down these values and beliefs to be able to function within civilization. Therefore, the young members of the family are taught to abide by the rules the family has and not consort to any delinquent behaviour. However, there are many criticisms towards the Functionalist view of the family. Marxists believe that, among families, there is no consensus and that society is based on inequality between the two classes, the bourgeois (ruling class) and the proletariat (working class). The family is a part of the superstructure of capitalist society which operates not in the interests of society and all of its members equally but in the interests of the capitalist system and of the capitalist class within that system, contrasting the view of Functionalists. According to Marxists, Functionalists ignore the negative side of the family and only focuses on...
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...functions of the family Assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of families and households. (24) Functionalists take a consensus view of the role of family. They see it as a universal institution that performs essential functions for society as a whole and all members of the family. According to Murdock, it provides important sub-system that provides stable satisfaction for the sex drive and therefore avoids social disruption. As well as this, Murdock says the family reproduces the next generation and thus ensuring current society to continue. Parsons sees a functional fit with the nuclear family fitting modern society’s needs for a geographically and socially mobile labour force. However critics argue that he is wrong about the relationship between industrialisation and family structure. Moreover Marxists, Liberal, radical and Marxist feminist all view the functions of the family in different ways, this essay will assess the different perspectives in which all these groups view the functions of the family. Functionalists believe that society is based on a value consensus- as set of shared norms and values; into which society socialises its members. This enables them to cooperate harmoniously to meet society’s needs and achieve shared goals. They regard society as system made up of different parts or sub-systems that depend on each other, such as the family, the education system and the economy. Factionalists also see the family as a particularly...
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...assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of families and households (24 marks) According to functionalist sociologists, the family is a key institution of society. It performs vital functions for the maintenance of society as a whole and for the benefit of all its individual members. For example, according to George Peter Murdock, it provides for the stable satisfaction of the sex drive and thus avoids the social disruption and conflict that could be caused by a sexual ‘free for all’. Similarly, the family reproduces the next generation and thereby ensures the continuation of society over time. Functionalists tend to see the nuclear family as the ideal family type for modern society. For example, Talcott Parsons argues that it is the family structure best equipped to meet the need of industrial society for a mobile labour force. Similarly, the nuclear family performs two essential functions for its members and for society as a whole. However, not everyone accepts the functionalist view of the family and its role. Marxists and feminists reject its consensus assumptions about who benefits from the family. Similarly, historians and sociologists have put forward evidence to challenge Parsons’ view that there is a ‘functional fit’ between the type of society and the type of family structure found within it. When considering the question, we need to understand that functionalism has contributed towards our understanding of the family. However other perspectives...
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...for the “Theoretical Perspectives on Families” discussed in the text The Marriage and Family Experience. The two categories are the Macro-level Theories and the Micro-level Theories. “The Macro-level Theories focus on families as a social institution” (Strong & Cohen, 2014, p. 39). “A social institution is the organized pattern of statuses and structures, roles and rules by which a society attempts to meet certain of its basic needs “(Strong & Cohen, 2014, p. 39). Macro-level theories examine the how the family is influenced by society. Family ecology theory, structural functionalism theory, conflict theory, and feminist perspective are all example of Macro-level theories. Micro-level Theories emphasize what happens within families. The theories take into account everyday behavior, interaction between family members, and patterns of communication. Symbolic interaction theory, social exchange theory, and family systems theory are examples of Micro-level theories. This reaction report will discuss two of the “Theoretical Perspectives on Families:” the structural functionalism theory and the social exchange theory and provide modern day examples of these theories. Structural Functionalism Theory “The structural functionalism theory is a framework for building a theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability” ("Structural," 2015, p. 1). This means that the family consists of several members that performs...
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...Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist approach to society (33 marks) Functionalism is seen as a macro-scale approach to society; it sees society as a whole rather than looking at parts of it. Due to this, functionalism sees society as a body (organic analogy), all the institutions work together to make society. This is particularly useful when observing society in order to understand the way in which it functions and the way in which all the institutions (organic analogy: organs within the body) work together to sustain society as a whole. Functionalism being a macro-scale approach is therefore seen as a strength as it allows functionalist sociologists to observe society, and its institutions, as a whole. Functionalism is also seen as a consensus theory, it sees society as fair and just, and it acknowledges that many societies, including the majority of western ones, have democracy and all individuals within a particular society share the same or similar norms and values. This could therefore be seen as a strength as it acknowledges that democracy does exist in many societies. However, as functionalism is a macro-scale approach and sees society as a whole, it could miss crucial factors/ groups which contribute to the functioning of society; these include small groups and tribes, such as gipsies. Not acknowledging these minority groups within society could lead to functionalist sociologists lacking crucial information about how society functions and how...
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...Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist approach to society (33 marks) Functionalism is seen as a macro-scale approach to society it sees society as a system of interrelated parts or social institutions such as religion, the family and the economy. Therefore functionalism sees society as the human body or organic analogy meaning society is like an organism with basic needs that it must meet in order to survive. This is particularly useful when observing society in order to understand the way in which it functions as well as the way in which all the institutions work together (organic analogy: organs within the body) to sustain society as a whole. Functionalism being a macro-scale approach is therefore seen as a strength, as it allows functionalist sociologists to observe society, and its institutions, as a whole. Functionalism is also seen as a consensus theory, it sees society as fair and just, and it acknowledges that many societies, including the majority of western ones, have democracy and all individuals within a particular society share the same or similar norms and values. This can therefore be seen as a strength, as it takes into account that democracy does exist in many societies. However, as functionalism is a macro-scale approach and sees society as a whole, it could miss crucial factors or groups which contribute to the functioning of society. These include small groups and tribes, such as gipsies. Not acknowledging these minority groups within...
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...the strengths and limitations of the functionalists theory in sociology. In the study of sociology, the functionalist perspective is a view of society that focuses on the way various parts of society have funtions and live in a consensus that maintain the stability and social order of the whole society. Functionalism is seen as a macro scale approach to society; it sees society as a whole rather than just focusing on some parts of it. Because of this, functionalism views society as a body (organic analogy), all institutions works together to make the society. This is particularly useful when observing the society in order to understand the way it functions and how all the institutions work together to sustain society as a whole. This can also be denoted as one of its strengths. Functionalism is also seen as a consensus theory, it sees society as fair and just, and it acknowledges that many societies including the majority of western ones, have democracy and all individuals within a particular society share the same or similar norms and values. This also could therefore be seen as a strength as it acknowledges that democracy does exists in many societies. Functionalism emphasizes a societal equilibrium. If something happens to disrupt the order and the flow of the system, society must adjust to achieve a stable state. According to Durkheim, society should be analyzed and described in terms of functions. Society is a system of interrelated parts where no one part can function...
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...choose, our education, or even the family. Our family consists of parents, children, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. Family is a social institution that an individual is born into. A family is not a chosen part of life. According to the text “the family exists for the care and protection of offspring and is a major unit for economic consumption ( ). Throughout this essay I will describe how the social institutions of family impact sociological theories, functionalism, conflict, and interactionism. II. How Social Theories, Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism apply to Family? A. Similarities B. Differences III. How does; Social Theories, Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism affect the views of the members who are a part of the family? A. Effect of Social Theories on the Family. B. Effect of Functionalism on the Family. C. Effect of Conflict on the Family. D. Effect of Interactionism on the Family. IV. How does; Social Theories, Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism affect the approach to social change within the family? A. How does Social Theories affect social change within the Family? B. How does Functionalism affect social change within the Family? C. How does Conflict affect social change within the Family? D. How does Interactionism affect social change within the Family? V. Within family how does; Social Theories, Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism...
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...principal perspectives and these are Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, Interactionism, Postmodernism, Collectivism and New Right. Functionalism In 1951, Talcott Parsons introduced the Functionalist view and this studies the social structure as a whole of how it functions as well as how each social structure is crucial in the interests of society. Functionalism believes that humans and the society have basic needs, institutions and governments might be responsible to meet the required needs of people also the functionalist may consider that they are different kinds of sources that could limit the individual’s behaviour within the chosen society, meaning that the society will behave appropriately based on one’s behaviour while having the same values, on the other hand the functionalist view does recognise that there may be errors or inequalities within the society but bearing in mind this can be functional for the society. However there have been criticisms against functionalism as some may believe that it is not a realistic way of living and not considering one’s own choices also functionalism may seem to ignore conflict and diversity within individuals in the society. Parsons sees inequalities as a well function to society as it helps in the running of society or community. The main key idea of functionalism is to ensure smooth running of the society and this is done through the structures of households and family. The weakness of functionalism does not clearly address the conflicts...
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...Assess the contribution of Functionalism and New Right theories and research to our understanding of society today. (33 marks) Functionalism, devised by Durkheim and Parsons, is a structural theory focusing on the needs of the whole social system and how these shape society’s main features (e.g. social institutions, humans’ behavioural patterns). It is a consensus theory, seeing society as based on value consensus (agreement) between its inhabitants about their values, goals and rules. The New Right is a conservative, political perspective that shares similarities with Functionalism (e.g. believing some people are more naturally talented than others) but contradicts it in arguing that the state should have less involvement in society (e.g. by cutting welfare). Durkheim saw modern industrial society as based on a complex division of labour which promotes differences between groups, weakening social solidarity. He argued that the resultant freedom to the individual must be regulated by society to prevent extreme egoism from destroying all social bonds. Resultantly, he saw society as external and independent to individuals, being made up of ‘social facts’ that constrain and shape people’s behaviour to meet society’s functional prerequisites (needs). Durkheim further believed that if any one thing (‘social fact’) exists, it has a function which will help meet society’s needs, the key ones of which are goals (met through political institutions, e.g. parliament), adaptation (meeting...
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...Assess the contribution of Functionalism theories. (33 marks) Functionalism, devised by Durkheim and Parsons, is a structural theory focusing on the needs of the whole social system and how these shape society’s main features, for example social institutions and humans’ behavioural patterns. The theory is a consensus theory in which views society as based on value consensus (agreement) between its inhabitants about their values, goals and rules. Durkheim saw modern industrial society as based on a complex division of labour which promotes differences between groups, weakening social solidarity. He argued that the resultant freedom to the individual must be regulated by society to prevent extreme egoism from destroying all social bonds. Essentially, he saw society as external and independent to individuals, being made up of ‘social facts’ that constrain and shape people’s behaviour to meet society’s functional prerequisites (needs). Durkheim further believed that if any one thing (‘social fact’) exists, it has a function which will help meet society’s needs, the key ones of which are goals (met through political institutions, e.g. parliament), adaptation (meeting members’ material needs, e.g. through the economy), integration (socialising members into the shared values and goals of society, e.g. through education and the media) and latency (maintaining society through reproduction of its members). Functionalists describe society using an organic analogy and compare it...
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...Evaluate the Functionalist contribution to our understanding of society. (33) Functionalism is one of the earliest sociological theories; it was a development from the first sociological theories developed by Auguste Comte in the early part of the 19thC. Comte developed sociology as ‘the Queen of the Sciences’ in order to use a scientific approach to understanding society. In addition to this scientific approach, he believed that society had a structure and each element of the structure played a particular role in the functioning of society. Emile Durkheim developed these ideas into a sociological perspective which we now call Functionalism. This perspective continued to be modified and developed until the middle of the 20thC when other perspectives gained importance. Functionalists believe that society is a social system made up of interrelated parts, which have specific functions to perform. Durkheim’s organic analogy suggests that society is like a living organism, just like the human body it is made up of organs which have specific functions to perform to keep the body alive, so society has institutions which have specific functions to perform which keep society in a state of equilibrium. Functionalism is therefore a Structuralist theory, examining the structures or institutions of society to see how they work to benefit society. Durkheim believed that society existed external to the individual and controlled the actions of individuals through social integration...
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...Sociological Perspectives In this assignment I will explore the sociological perspectives. In sociology there are 7 perspectives. Sociology is “The study of human social behaviour, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society.” (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 2011). The seven perspectives of sociology are functionalism, Marxism, feminism, interactionism, postmodernism, new right and collectivism. Definitions “Functionalism interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society. Society is more than the sum of its parts; rather, each part of society is functional for the stability of the whole society” (Crossman, 2015). “Marxism is a political, social, and economic philosophy derived from the work of the 19th-century historians Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It views human history as a struggle between social classes and asserts that capitalism is inherently exploitative.” (Chegg.com, 2015) “Feminism is a complex set of political ideologies used by the women’s movement to advance the cause of women’s equality and to end the sexist theory and practice of social oppression. (Crossman, 2015) “The interactionist perspective is one of the major theoretical perspectives within sociology. It focuses on the concrete details of what goes on among individuals in everyday life. Interactionists study how we use and interpret symbols not only to communicate...
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