- "A framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability."
A theoretical perspective that views society as a complex system made up of interdependent parts that work together to promote social stability and order.
Functionalism: This is a theoretical approach that emphasizes the interdependent parts of society as well as the functions that they serve within the larger system.
Social Structure: This refers to the underlying patterns of relationships and interactions that exist within a society, including social institutions and cultural norms.
Social Solidarity: This refers to the degree of cohesion and unity within a society, which can vary depending on factors like shared values, common experiences, and the level of social integration.
Macro-level Analysis: This is an approach to sociology that focuses on the big-picture patterns and structures of society, such as social inequality, social stratification, and the division of labor.
Merton's Strain Theory: This is a sociological theory that explains deviance as the result of the discrepancy between the cultural goals of a society and the available means of achieving those goals.
Parsons' AGIL Framework: This is a theoretical framework that defines four essential functions in society: adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and latency.
Durkheim's Anomie Theory: This is a sociological theory that argues that rapid social change and disintegration can lead to feelings of social isolation and despair, which can results in suicide and other forms of deviant behavior.
Structural-functional Social Stratification Theory: This perspective suggests that social inequality is a necessary part of society, as it serves to ensure that each individual is placed in the appropriate role and compartmentalized according to their abilities.
Criticisms of Structural Functionalism: Various critiques of this theory include allegations that it is overly simplistic, ignores the influence of power dynamics and conflicts, and lacks the ability to explain social change.
Functionalism and the Evolution of Society: This topic examines how functionalism has been applied to the development of societies over time, including the different levels of social complexity that have arisen and the roles that different social institutions play in shaping those societies.
Structural-functional Theory and Modern Societies: This topic explores how the concept of structural-functionalism can be applied in contemporary society to understand key issues such as inequality, globalization, and the changing nature of work.
Application of Functionalism to Different Societies and Cultures: This topic examines how functionalism has been used to study various societies and cultures, including indigenous and tribal populations, to help explain the role that culture plays in shaping social behavior and relationships.
Structural-functionalism and Organization Theory: This topic delves into how structural-functionalism has been applied to organization theory, including the role of bureaucracy, decision-making processes, and how organizations work to achieve goals and maintain stability.
Functionalism and International Relations: This topic explores how functionalism can be applied to understanding global relations, including the role of international organizations and the ways in which countries interact with one another to achieve shared goals.
Systems Theory: This concept argues that all social systems are interdependent and interconnected.
Functional differentiation: This concept explains how different structures of society have various functions and roles.
Norms and values: This concept explains how norms and values serve as the guiding principles that help society function effectively.
Society's adaptation to change: This concept explains how society adapts and changes to maintain stability and avoid the breakdown of the system.
Patterns of social interaction: This concept explains how social structures are subject to patterns of interaction that determine their functioning.
Social equilibrium: This concept explains how society works towards a state of equilibrium, where all the aspects of the society are balanced and functioning smoothly.
- "A broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole."
- "Believes that society has evolved like organisms."
- "Norms, customs, traditions, and institutions."
- "Presents these parts of society as 'organs' that work toward the proper functioning of the 'body' as a whole."
- "Herbert Spencer."
- "It emphasizes 'the effort to impute, as rigorously as possible, to each feature, custom, or practice, its effect on the functioning of a supposedly stable, cohesive system'."
- "'Structural-functionalism' came to describe a particular stage in the methodological development of social science, rather than a specific school of thought."
- "Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements."
- "Norms, customs, traditions, and institutions."
- "This approach looks at both social structure and social functions."
- "It sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability."
- "The social structures that shape society as a whole."
- "Society has evolved like organisms."
- "Norms, customs, traditions, and institutions."
- "These parts of society as 'organs' that work toward the proper functioning of the 'body' as a whole."
- "Herbert Spencer."
- "It emphasizes 'the effort to impute, as rigorously as possible, to each feature, custom, or practice, its effect on the functioning of a supposedly stable, cohesive system'."
- "A particular stage in the methodological development of social science."
- "Came to describe a particular stage in the methodological development of social science, rather than a specific school of thought."