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