Structural Functionlism

Talcott Parsons functionalist theory (MOTIVATIONAL PROBLEM)

"motivational problem" of social order = individuals must be socialized to serve society, carry out social roles, at the same time, society must meet biological and psychological needs of individuals

What is the primary basis of social/human action, according to Parsons?

Culture values & primary basis of social action, NOT personality and human biological drives *CULTURE + SOCIETY MOLDS PERSONALITY (nurture)

Parsons AGIL model of functional requirement

adaptation, goal formation, integration, latent pattern maintenance

Positive effects of occupational specialization

a) society must become more tolerant and inclusive in order to fill these roles w most qualified individuals b) values become more diluted, generalized & relative

What does the extent to which one suffers from anomie depend on?

ability to achieve goals/values of your specific reference group (not living up to society's general values)

Parsons: behavioral organism

action system handles adaptation function

List Parsons' 4 action systems

social system, cultural system, personality system, behavioral system

What is the basic assumption of structural functionalism?

society as a consensus on values - social structures, institutions, organizations, and roles all embody these common values and serve to preserve them - a function is vital to the extent it supports the dominant value system

Organicism

society as a system - society is made up of parts that are inter-connected, interdependent, and purposeful *no matter how small, every unit exists to fulfill a positive function in the system; to contribute to the maintenance of the social order

Internalization

society motivates members to want to fulfill its most vital functions -teach them to believe that society's values are just, moral, universal - proper internalization makes needs of individual congruent with needs of society

Parsons: personality system

goal-attainment function (defining system goals)

Reference groups (Merton)

groups in which we aspire to belong (groups we closely identify, emulate, and idealize)

Who are the main people associated with structural functionalism?

1. Talcott Parsons 2. Robert Merton 3. Lewis Coser

Davis and Moore contribution

1. no society is ever unstratified or totally classless 2. *STRATIFICATION = FUNCTIONAL NECESSITY 3. Positions ranked higher are less pleasant to occupy but are MORE important to survival of society 4. Society must attach sufficient rewards so people seek to occupy

intra-group conflict (coser)

closer the relationship, greater emotional investment, greater tendency to suppress rather than express hostile feelings *differences in conflict resolution between primary and secondary groups

Parsons: social system

copes w integration function by controlling component parts

Anomie (Merton)

disjuncture between cultural values and structural opportunity to achieve these values

Parsons: Adaptation

economy - must adapt to environment and adapt environment to its needs

What is the positive function of social conflict, according to Coser?

enhances internal group solidarity

inter-group conflict (coser)

external threats & attacks bring the group closer together; the exaggeration and invention of threats by leaders * Larger group, more difficult for leader to mobilize members

Parsons: Latent Pattern Maintenance

family, education, religion - system must furnish, maintain, & renew both the motivation of individuals AND the cultural patterns that create and sustain that motivation

Parsons: Integration

family, legal system, religion - system must regulate interrelationship of its component parts & manage relationship among other 3 functional imperatives

Where does poverty breed anomie?

in stratified societies (haves and have nots)

Parsons: cultural system

latency function; provides actors w norms & values that motivate for action

What is social change driven by, according to Parsons?

occupational specialization

Rewards

people serve society bc they expect to be rewarded with prestige *MOST IMPORTANT ROLES IN SOCIETY HAVE MOST PRESTIGE ATTACHED TO THEM *CONCLUSION: unequal distribution of fame, fortune & power is NECESSARY bc "society" rewards those roles that are most crucial to its maintenance and stability

Parsons: Goal Attainment

political system - system must define & achieve primary goals

an example of structural functionalism

the economy: function is to meet material needs of society, large corporations control wealth

How does sf achieve a value consensus?

through socialization process: internalization, and social control - rewards and punishments