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