Structural Functionalism

Structural functionalism, or simply

functionalism, is "a framework for building
theory that sees society as a complex system
whose parts work together to promote
solidarity and stability"
Emile Durkheim (1857-1917)

• A French sociologist,
social psychologist and
philosopher

• His ideas and works

were the inspiration of
functionalism

• Concerened with the

question of how
societies maintain
internal stability
Emphasizes two concepts

Social Solidarity Collective Science

The feeling that we belong The “external expression”

to a common society. of the collective will of
Based upon such things as people living in a society.
common culture,
socialization, basic values
and norms.
Social Structure

• Governs the behavior of a set of individuals

within a given human collectivity.
• Gives shape to our lives
• Includes family, religion, peer group,
community, economic systems, legal systems,
penal systems, language, and the media.
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

• An English philosopher
• Compared society to a
human body
• With various social structures
or institutions working
together like organs to
maintain and reproduce
societies
• Represents a macro
approach to the theorizing
and study of the social world.
Social Function

• Refers to the consequences for the

operation of society as a whole.

• Promotes stability and integration

Robert King Merton

• An American
sociologist

• Distinguished
between manifest
and latent
funcions
Manifest functions Latent functions

Intended consequences Unintended consequences

of a social activity. The of a social activity. The
element of a behaviour element of a behaviour that
is not explicitly stated,
that is conscious and
recognized, and is thereby
deliberate hidden
Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)

• An American
sociologist
Parson’s Structual Functionalism
Adaptation- A system must cope with external situational
exigencies, It must adapt to its environment and adapt
environment to its needs
Goal attainment- A system must define and achieve its
primary goals
Integration- A system must regulate the interrelationship of
its component parts
Latency- A system must furnish, maintain, and renew both
motivation of individuals and the cultural patterns that
create and sustain the motivation
Structure of the General Action System
Action System- Handles adaptation function by adjusting
to and transforming the external world
Personality System- Performs the goal attainment function
by defining system goals and mobilizing resources to attain
them
Social System- Copes with the integration by controlling its
component parts
Cultural System- Performs the latency function by
providing actors with the norms and values that motivate
them for action
Key Principle of the Functionalist Perspective

Interdependency
Society is made up of interdependent parts.
Every part of society is dependent to some
extent on other parts of society
Functional of social structure and culture
Each part of the social system exists because it
serves some function
Consensus and Cooperation
Societies have a tendency towards consensus,
which is to have certain basic values that nearly
everyone in the society agrees upon.
Equilibrium
The characteristics of the society when it has
achieved the form that is best adopted to its
situation
QUIZ!
1-2. Two Concepts
3. A framework for building theory that sees society as a complex
system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability
4-7. Structure of the General Action System
8. Unintended consequences of a social activity. The element of a
behaviour that is not explicitly stated, recognized, and is thereby
hidden
9. Intended consequences of a social activity. The element of a
behaviour that is conscious and deliberate
10. Refers to the consequences for the operation of society as a
whole.