SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES FOR HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Unit 7Lesson 1

Functionalism and Marxism

Learning Objectives

• To describe the main concepts of the Functionalist perspective.

• To describe the main concepts of the Marxist Theory

FUNCTIONALISM

CONSENSUS THEORY

• Agreement (also known as CONSENSUS) on what is right and wrong, is the basis of social life.

• Without consensus, society would collapse into chaos where no one would be able to agree on how people should conduct themselves.

• Consensus and having shared values enables us to co-operate with each other and this provides unity…

…Having consensus provides harmony.• Do you agree?

Consensus Theory

What is Functionalism?

• Can be best understood by likening society to the human body.

• Just as the human bodies organs work together to ensure efficient functioning, so do the different institutions in society.

• All have particular contributions to make to ensure smooth running of society.

• Work together and use methods of social control to deal with deviant members or groups.

Auguste Comte (1798-1857) had

FUNCTIONALIST ideas. He thought you could

understand how society FUNCTIONS by comparing

it with the FUNCTIONNING of the

human body.

Comte thought there were similarities between how all the organs in the body had specific individual FUNCTIONS but worked together to maintain health and life.

What are the FUNCTIONS of the following organs? The brain?

The olfactory senses?

The spine?

The lungs?

The intestines?

Family

Economy

Legal systemEducation

Health system

Religion

The FUNCTIONALIST idea is that if all the

systems (organs) in society are FUNCTIONNING

in harmony it will remain healthy.

http://youtu.be/MNeYnWL3D9AYoung man speak out

http://youtu.be/Mm8r8I7ApDQRioting

How is society like a human body?

THE BODY• Every part of the

body has a function- to keep it alive.

• The human body grows and develops.

• All of the parts of the body link into one big system.

• This helps the body fight disease and ‘function’ properly.

SOCIETY• Every part of society

helps to keep society going e.g. the family helps by bringing up the next generation.

• Societies gradually develop and change.

• All parts of society work together and depend on each other – they are interdependent.

• Society has mechanisms to deal with problems such as the police and the legal system. This helps society to ‘function’ properly.

Your turn!We have just examined how every part of society has a

function – a job to do.• What do you think may be the function of the

following? Work in pairs and note down some ideas on a piece of paper.

• The family

• Schools

• The legal system

• Healthcare

The functions of the family

George Murdock (1949) found the family has 4 main functions;• The sexual function for the expression of sexuality

in an approved context.• The reproductive function providing stability for the

rearing of children.• Socialisation – the responsibility for teaching

children the acceptable ways of behaving in society.• The economic function – food, shelter and income.

The Sick Role

• Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) believed society was made up of inter related institutions which contributed to the smooth running of society.

• The main function of each is to socialise individuals and ensure they understand the values and behaviours expected in society.

• A way of explaining the particular rights and responsibilities of those who are ill.

• Since those who are diagnosed with a medical condition cannot always fulfill the same duties that a person in good health can, society adapts to this situation and allows for a reasonable amount of deviation from behaviour that would be viewed as typical of a well person.

• What do you think may be the rights and responsibilities of an ill person?

The sick role has both rights and responsibilities. Rights • Patients have the right to some form of exemption from

normal social activities e.g. time off work.• They are freed from personal responsibility for the illness – its

not their fault. They have a right to be taken care of. By who?Responsibilities• They must see being ill as undesirable and strive to get better

and resume their normal social roles. Is this always true?• They must seek professional help and co-operate with the

treatment. Is this always true?This role is one way of dealing with ill health in society, as it ensures the

smooth functioning of society.

MARXISM

CONFLICT MODEL

This is Karl MARX.

Remember his name: he’s one of the most important thinkers of modern(ish) times.

To put it short, this is what he thought:

1. Society is in a state of CONFLICT between the rich and the poor.

5. Marx called this arrangement the RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION and argued it EXPLOITED the SUBJECT CLASS (or the PROLETARIAT).

3. CAPITALISM is an economic system where a small minority of society own the FORCES OF PRODUCTION (factories & information).

4. This minority is called the RULING CLASS (or the BOURGEOSIE) – they employ people to work for them to produce goods that they sell.

2. Society uses a system called CAPITALISM to keep the rich - rich and the poor – poor.

Over to you

• Are there equal opportunities for all? Or do some people have advantages over others?

• If you think there are inequalities in society, what could be done to reduce them?

• Discuss in groups on your table. Be ready to feedback to the rest of the class.

Marx’s insight..

• Its all about the money…

And social class….

Some people had it…

They are called the capitalists –bourgeoisie (upper or ruling class)

These people (a minority) who owned the means of production.

Some people didn’t…

They were called the workers - proletariat(lower or working class)

These people (the majority) did not own the means of production.

Capitalists and workers are thrown together…they don’t get on too well..

Marx argued that all societies involved conflict – that was based upon fundamental inequalities and different economical and political interests.

Marxism viewpoints basically argue that one group in society

the upper/middle class (bourgeoisie) are more powerful. This power is economic (based on

wealth).To stay in power the bourgeoisie need to control and exploit the

working class (proletariat).

• Capitalists want the maximum profit and the lowest costs

• Workers want the highest wage for the least work

Although wealth is created by the proletariat (the working class), it is

taken away by the bourgeoisie in the form of profits.

• Capitalists compete with each other – the successful capitalists get richer and richer.

• And the failed capitalists fall down into the working class…

• Marx said that eventually the workers will rise up in revolution against the capitalist class and a new communist society will be created.

The relationship between a boss and a worker is an exploitative one. The worker does what the boss tells them.

Everything is for the benefit of the boss (or RULING CLASS).

Nothing is for the benefit of the worker (the SUBJECT CLASS).

We call this miserable relationship between the RULING CLASS and the SUBJECT CLASS, the RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION.

The RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION are about EXPLOITATION and

ALIENATION. It means that people in this CAPITALIST class structure, feel tied to their jobs, tied to their possessions and feel that they just live to work. They lose their sense of humanity.

Because making PROFIT basically means ripping people off, the

CAPITALISTS or, business people, have to come up with ways to cover up the unfairness. They do it using something called

IDEOLOGY.

IDEOLOGY is the way in which people are told to think by those in power.

Because the RULING CLASS are in power, they use

IDEOLOGY to make up ways to convince the SUBJECT CLASS that CAPITALISM is normal, fair and right, even though it blatantly isn’t.

THIS IS REALLY

STUPID.

WHY DO WE LET THIS HAPPEN?

We don’t “LET IT HAPPEN”. CAPITALIST IDEOLOGY is used by

the RULING CLASS to convince us that we need loads of stuff …..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH_DkBI9Qsk – We Want Your Soul.

A bloke called Althusser came up with the idea of IDEOLOGICAL STATE APPARATUS.

This is APPARATUS or equipment

Used by the STATE or RULING CLASS or GOVERNMENTTo push their CAPITALIST norms and values on the people.

IF YOU HAVE ON E OF THESE IN YOUR HOME, BEWARE –

IT IS BEING USED BY CAPITALISTS TO HYPNOTISE YOU INTO BELIEVING THAT IT’S NORMAL TO

HAVE A BIG BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT ARE KEPT POOR BY THE RICH.

Why can’t we reject these messages?

Marx argued that there was serious CLASS CONFLICT in

CAPITALIST society because of this exploitation.

He argued that the RULING CLASS, in particular, were suffering from

FALSE CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS. This means that they were just not aware of how much they were being exploited as workers and consumers.

IDEOLOGY was responsible for this FALSE CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS.

Marxists argue that capitalist ideology shapes the way of life of a society – its culture e.g.

the mass media convinces us through advertising to buy more material goods. We want to be rich so that we can buy more and more and somehow this will make us happy.

What is more, while we are doing all this we are not noticing the inequalities and

exploitation of the capitalist system. This is described as ‘false class consciousness’ – we are not aware of our ‘real’ identity

as exploited and oppressed workers.

Marxists argue that the institutions are organised to benefit the ruling class.

• The family – provides socialisation of children, preparing them for the disciplines and routines of work.

• The health system ensures a healthy workforce which in turn ensures more profit for the ruling classes as workers don’t take time off sick! They believe that doctors hide the real social causes of illness (poverty, class inequality etc.) by focusing on the individual and their physical symptoms.

I predicted that there would come a time

when the SUBJECT CLASS wouldn’t

take this faeces from the CAPITALIST system any more.

I predicted that a REVOLUTION

would overthrow the RULING CLASS.

ACTIVITY• Summary:• Functionalists believe

societies are united by common values that are shared across society, ensuring smooth running.

• Marxists believe society is split; society is organised and controlled by powerful minority groups to meet their own needs.

• In groups, consider whether the following groups work for the good of society or mainly for the successful and powerful groups:

• Schools and colleges• The economy• Health and Social Care

services.

Now you can complete the Functionalism and Marxism section of P1

• Explain the principal sociological perspectivesProduce an information booklet or a set of factsheets explaining the principal sociological perspectives:

Assignment 1