AS Sociology- Functionalism Key Terms

The Welfare State

A social system in which the Government assumes responsibility for the well being of its citizens by providing access to basic resources eg: Housing, health care, education

Parsons- 1955

American functionalist sociologist who theorised the two functions of the family/ warm bath theory

Functionalism

A consensus, structural theory which centers around the idea that people benefit from, and love society

Social Solidarity

A feeling of belonging to a particular social group

Value Consensus

A general agreement of society's values

Meritocracy

A social system in which peoples success' depend upon their talents, abilities and efforts

G.P Murdock- 1949

American functionalist sociologist who theorised the four functions of the family

Charles Murray- 1989

American, new right, functionalist sociologist who theorised 'the underclass'

Fletcher- 1970

British sociologist who theorised the family as a multi-functional unit

Expressive role

Caring and nurturing role, traditionally held by women

Instrumental role

Competitive, bread winning role, traditionally held by men

The New Right

Contemporary form of sociology which emerged in the 1970's, held traditional, conservative views

Emile Durkheim

Early functionalist writer who composed the Organic Analogy

Role allocation

Expectations of conformity to a role through constructed socialisation eg: Gender role allocation

Typically conservative views

Favouring of traditional values eg: The nuclear family. Unsympathetic towards the poor eg: The 'Nanny State'

Multi functional unit

Fletcher's theory that the family compliments other institutions and does not replace them

Equality of opportunity

Functionalists argue that society is an essentially fair place in which everyone has an equal chance to succeed

Anomie

Moral confusion and uncertainty

Stable satisfaction of the sex drive

Murdocks theory that the family serves to cater for the loving, caring, emotional side to reproduction

Reproduction function

Murdocks theory that the family serves to have children

Economic function

Murdocks theory that the family serves to support each other financially, with men typically taking the breadwinner role

Socialisation function

Murdocks theory that the family serves to teach its children society's norms and values

The underclass

Murray's definition of a group of people below the working class, marked out by high levels of unemployment, family instability (Lone parenthood, illegitimacy) education failure and drug and alcohol abuse

David Marsland- 1980

New Right sociologist who argued that the Welfare State allowed women to be independent of men by relying on benefits, leading to an increase in single mothers and creating 'welfare dependency'

Willmott and Young- 1973

Pair of British sociologists who conducted a study into the family's conjugal roles

Stabilisation of adult personalities

Parsons theory that the adults of the family serve to stabilise each other through playing with children and providing mutual support and understanding

Warm bath theory

Parsons theory that the family removes the stresses and strains of everyday life

Primary socialisation of children

Parsons theory that the family serves to teach its children society's norms and values

Sanctions

Positive or negative actions which encourage or discourage certain behaviour- an agent of social control

Margaret Thatcher

Prime minister from 1979- 1990, associated with implementing conservative, right wing views in Government

Achieved Status

Status gained through your own behaviour eg: Manager

Ascribed Status

Status given at birth, eg: Race

Free market

The idea of privatisation, the freedom to pay for education, healthcare. Creates competition and choice across the institutions

The Organic Analogy

The idea that society is like the human body, all the different institutions need each other to work and act together to produce social order

Specialised division of labour

The way the economy organises work, eg: Education prepares you for work

Dennis and Erdos- 1980

Two British Sociologists who stated that "families need fathers"- Links to the New Right view which favours the nuclear family

The symmetrical family

Willmott and Young's theory that the family's set roles became blurred due to the privitisation of the nuclear family