Soc 401 Functionalism

7/27/2019 Soc 401 Functionalism

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Functionalism


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Functionalism

Reigned as the dominant theoretical

perspective.

Often referred to as structural

functionalism

Two leading functionalist

Talcott Parsons

Robert Merton


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Intellectual Roots of Functionalism

The most significant forerunners of

functionalism were:

Auguste Comte

Herbert Spencer

Emile Durkheim

Max Weber


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Auguste Comte (1789-1857)

Science relies upon empirical

knowledge.

Through his notions of social statistics

and social dynamics he established adirection for social research.

Through social statics Comte

maintained that units of investigation

were the individual, family, society andthe species.


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Auguste Comte (1789-1857)

Social dynamics, which today is known as

social change.

Organic Analogy

Described the social structure as

Elements (families)

Tissues (classes)

Organs (cities)


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Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

Influenced by Von Baer.

Acknowledged the role of

environmental variablesin social organizationSuper Organism (society)

The Organism (body)

Concept of differentiationis very important.


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Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

Process of growth is a process of

integration.

In 1898 argued that societies change from

incoherent homogeneity to definite

heterogeneity.

Premodern Societies vs. Modern Societies

Social institutions arise from structural

requirements.


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Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

His study on suicide rateswas recognized for one ofthe most importantprograms of research inthe last generation.

Theory supported byempirical data provideslegitimacy.

Validity of a structuralfunctioning system isneeded.


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Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

His sociology maintained a focus on structural analysisrather than individual action.

Shared Comtes functionalist, evolutionary and positive

premises.

Functionalism was the idea that society is a system.

Interested in how societies change over time.

Crime and deviance serve a functional role in society.


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Max Weber (1864-1920)

He caught Parsons interest by

his spiritual orientation.

Stated that Protestant ethic wasresponsible for rise of the spirit

of capitalism.

His analysis marked the 1

st

major development in

systematic discrimination.


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Linguistics and the Anthropoligical

Tradition

Ferdinand de Saussure

(1857-1913)

Saussure was a Swiss

linguist who was very

significant in the

development of

functionalism.


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Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913)

Distinction between Langue and Parole

Langue

Formal, grammatical system of language

Meaning of words can be alteredEx: the word gay once meant happy; now it also means

homosexual.

Parole

Actual speech such as facial expressions and bodylanguage.


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Anthropologists who influenced

functionalism: Clause Levi-Strauss

A.R. Radcliffe-Brown

Bronislaw Malinowski


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Claude Levi-Strauss

Applied structuralism

more broadly to all

forms of

communication.

Major innovation was

to reconceptualized

social phenomena.


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A.R. Radcliffe-Brown

Organismic

analogizing presents

teleological

implications.

Attempted to

eliminate problems.


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Bronislaw Malinowski

Malinowski and

Radcliffe-Brown both

committed to scientific

methodology.

Focused attention of

existing societies.


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Defining Functionalism

A macro sociological theory that examinessocial patterns and structures.

Views society as having interrelated parts.

Explains social change by variables such aspopulation growth and increased technology.

Two basic assumptions:1) Idea of interdependent parts

2) Consensus of values.


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Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)

One of the most

prominent theorists of

his time.

Attempted to

generate a grand

theory of society.


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Robert Merton (1910-2003)

Raised in SouthPhiladelphia slum.

Merton was not the

family name, hechanged his namefrom Meyer R.Schkolnick.

Received B.A. fromTemple Universityand doctorate fromHarvard.


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Robert Merton (1910-2003)

Always stressed importance of empiricalresearch.

Goal was to keep functional assumptions

to a minimum.His functionalist theories are middle-

range variety.

Despite differences, Parsons and Mertonare known as the leaders of the structuralfunctionalism school of thought.


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Theories of the Middle Range

Merton felt grand theories were tooabstract.

Middle range is principally used to guide

empirical inquiry.They are functionalist theories that consist

of limited sets of assumptions.

Durkheims Suicide and WebersProtestant Ethic and the Spirit ofCapitalism are examples.


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Theories of the Middle Range

Role sets are an important element.

For Merton, the term function does notmean the same thing as purpose.

Merton promoted a process referred to ascodification.


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Anomie Theory

Initially developed by Durkheim.

The success goal in American culture leads many

feelings of anomie.

It is the conflict between cultural goals andavailability of institutional means.

Theory on the study of social deviance.

Two most important elements of structures:

(1) culturally defined goals

(2) Institutionalized Means


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Merton described five types of individual

adaptations

1) Conformity

2) Innovation

3) Ritualistics

4) Retreatism

5) Rebellion


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Manifest and Latent Functions

Merton came to distinguish between two

usages for the word function:

1) Manifest Functions

-consequences that are expected

2) Latent Functions

-consequences that are not intended


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Dysfunctions

A performance with disruptingconsequences.

Dysfunctional events lessen the effectiveequilibrium of society.

Mertons concept of dysfunctions is centralto his argument that functionalism is notconservative.


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Empirical Research

Different research methods are necessary

for different empirical problems.

Consistently drew links between theory

and research.

For Merton theorizing was always

important.


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Neofunctionalism and Post Functionalism

Well known neofunctionalists:

Niklas Luhmann

Anthony Giddens

Jeffrey C. Alexander


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Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998)

In 1949 received a lawdegree at theUniversity of Freiburg.

Spent a year studyingunder Parsons.

Witnessed firsthandhis countrys defeat

and concluded thatmodern society wasnot a better place tolive.


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Argued that modern world is too

complex.

Very difficult to read his work.

Stressed the importance of grand theory.

Described general systems theory as

having two important elements:1) Distinction of the whole

2) The concept of self-referential systems


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His focus remains on the system not theindividual.

Social systems consist primarily ofcommunication networks.

Created a communication theory thatstressed human communication asreflexive.


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Anthony Giddens (1938-present)

Few theorists have

been as productive.

Produced 31 books

and more than 200articles.

Takes a postmodernist

point of view.

Believes classical

ideas must be repaired


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Anthony Giddens (1938-present)

Referred to his approach as the theory of

structuration.

Views social systems as continuous flows of

conduct in time and space. For years has been working in area of

globalization.

Three key areas of power:

1) Government2) Economy

3) Communities of Civil Society


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Jeffrey C. Alexander and

Neil Smelser

Alexander is credited

with coining term

neofunctionalism.

Views

neofunctionalism as

part of the

evolutionary growth.

Smelser is considered

a top level theorist in

neofunctionalism.

Believes people seekto avoid experience of

ambivalence.

Ambivalence refers to

such phenomena as

death and seperation.


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Relevancy

Every sociologist is a functionalist becausesociology IS functionalism.

Functionalism fails to explain social change.

Functionalism fails to explain most importantterms:

1) Structure

2) Function

3) Social system Safe to say functionalists approach will remain

around for many years to come.

Soc 401 Functionalism

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