How Are Societies Maintained?
Functionalism is a structural theory that maintains that the organization of the society, as well as the social structures, is more important than the individual members are. The theory proposes that an individual is born in the society, and they slowly become a product of various influences of the society (Moleski 45). Additionally, functionalism posits that social institutions, such as the media, religion, education, and family, play a crucial role in the socialization of the individual. Emile Durkheim was an ardent supporter of the functionalist perspective. He was positivist and “structuralist” who disagreed with the empathy and theory of social action.
As a functionalist, Emile would argue that society is widely based on social harmony and the value of unanimity that is achievable through social control and the process of socialization. Durkheim, who established the functionalist logic, was interested in the concept of social order that concerns itself with the establishment of societal stability. According to Moleski, Durkheim maintained that various parts of the society should collectively produce order and stability that are essential for productivity (Moleski 67). However, if things do not go well, the different parts of the society should find a way of adapting to create a new order that is relevant and meaningful.
The functionalists view the parts of the society in terms of the way individual parts contribute to the stability of the whole society. The parts include social institutions that are organized to satisfy different needs, and each part has an integral role to play in forming and molding the society (Moleski 73). For example, the state or government is responsible for providing education for all children. In turn, the state depends on taxes that the families contribute to run or function properly. On the other hand, families rely on the schools to educate children so that they can find meaningful jobs and raise families of their own.
Work Cited
Moleski, Walter. Functionalism Revisited. New York: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.
