The world of Sociology is ever-changing in terms of its structure to reflect the growing and changing dynamics of the population. There are many theories that encompass the teachings of Sociology that are very important to fully understand the complete scope of the subject. One of these theories is the Structural Functionalist theory.
Structural functionalism, or functionalism as it is most commonly called is a theory in the subject of Sociology. However this theory can also be applied to the subject of anthropology, biology and political science. It is a theory that explains that society is a system who has many integral parts that must be cohesive in order to promote solidarity and stability (Study.com). In other words the theory operates on the belief that everyone in society must work together for a society to be successful. According to this theory, this helps people to feel as if they are a part of a group and also feel as if their lives are stable. Everything and everyone has to function together properly for every part of society to function normally.
In essence this theory focuses on how social institutions like hospitals, schools, and other public places can meet the needs of society. For example, in the United States, public schooling is a basic American right, therefore, schools are established to meet the needs of the children. The Functionalism theory gets its structure the ideas of Emile Durkheim. “Durkheim was concerned with the question of how societies maintain internal stability and survive over time” (Boundless).
There were two theorists that studied this theory deeply and developed the modern definition that we now learn about. Their names are Herbert Spencer and Robert Merton, they conducted major research and studies about this theory. They came up with some “Important concepts in functionalism include social structure, social functions, manifest functions, and latent functions” (Moffitt). Many other theorist throughout history have studied this theory of sociology and many have determined that a time has gone on and society’s needs changed so has the way we work together for the common good.
Spencer and Merton mention a lot about social structures in society. Their research suggested that individuals are guided by structures of society. In turn, these theorists describe these structures as stable patterns of behavior.. Basically, it says that we act the way we do because it is socially ingrained in us. The way we cooperate with our friends and families and the community around us. For example, our religious rituals can be considered a social structure or even the way we shake hands.
The two theorists also did a lot of research on social functions. What social functions encompass are the consequences of our social structures. For example, our social structures influence the way we educate our children and young adults. However, their main concern was how societies maintained stability while still tending to the daily tasks. The division of labor is a big component of this theory. “Because social institutions are integrated to form a stable system, a change in one institution will precipitate a change in other institutions. (Boundless).
Most of the theorists also talk about the concept of Social Integration. In this concept everyone has similar goals they want to achieve and everyone holds the same values in terms of family and work life. In order for the goals to be achieved everyone has to work cooperatively toward the same goals. Mostly, functionalism allows for social goals to be met, and not so much personal goals, however, people are still encouraged to meet their personal goals. There is also a positive culture and climate that is provided so that everyone gets along and can work together. Functionalism creates an environment that nurtures particular behaviors and patterns. This allows society to conform to beliefs and values and individuals also conform ton these behaviors. Every aspect of society needs to work off the last part and this explains how and why all of the elements in a society need to work with each other to achieve progress. Progression is the key term involved in this theory. Sociologists believe that thanks to structural functionalism we have progressed as a society greatly.
If you are living in a functionalist society there have to be certain criteria that needs to be met in order for it to function correctly. “There are sets of rules, regulations, norms, and expectations regarding the behaviors of people along cultural guidelines” (Family Crisis). The reason that these norms or rules are put into place is because every society needs to get teach and help the young children grows and make their way through life. For example, as citizens most of us go through life the same way. We help our young children go through infancy, then childhood and into adulthood. Eventually, if we raise the children correctly they reach the self-actualization part of life where they can get married and have a family of their own. In turn, the circle continues and each group continues the cycle of teaching the next generation of people to function as a society.
Managing society is like managing different cultures. In class we have learned that by learning to work together which is considered having metacognition, remains a vital skill for success in today’s society. If an institution is deemed to be dysfunctional or useless than it no longer serves the purpose of the society in which it exists. Therefore, it is recommended that the institution should no longer be in use. For example, hospitals which are losing money are sometime
Although Spencer and Merton gave us the modern definition of Structural functionalism there were several other theorists that had a lot to do in the development of this theory. One of these people was Talcott Parsons. Mr. Parson’s was an intelligent individual who at a young age obtained a professor position at Harvard University, around the year 1950. “Talcott Parsons viewed society as a system. He argued that any social system has four basic functional prerequisites: adaptation, goal attainment, integration and pattern maintenance” (Black). Parsons viewed these as problems society must resolve for survival. It acts as a prerequisite for a functioning society.
What Parson’s meant by adaptation is the relationship between society and the environment. “In order to survive, social systems must have some degree of control over their environment” (Black). For example, members of any given society should have the basic needs such as food and shelter. However, the economy is what controls if people have enough money to meet these basic needs.
In terms of Goal attainment Parsons refereed to what most the theorists of functionalism refer too, which is setting goals that will be beneficial to everyone. Integrations means adjusting to the norms of the social system, such as laws imposed by the government. Finally, Pattern maintenance refers to the “maintenance of the basic pattern of values, institutionalized in the society” (Black). Members of society that fulfill this function include the family, schools and religious establishments.
Structural Functionalism not only works in basic society but also in the world of politics. The whole theory functions with the way modern politics works. In politics, all of the functions of the theory are in play and it is believe that structural functionalism exists in all if not most political systems. “The functions listed are: political socialization, political interest articulation, political interest aggregation, and political communication” (Udel.edu). It concentrates on maintaining a delicate balance in society so that everything keep working in order. Everyone has a function to complete.
Of course every theory has its critics and Functionalism is not immune to that. Not everyone agrees with the components of this theory. What critics takes issue with is the fact that this theory does not take into care about the result of individual actions. Individual actions are often left out of the functionalist perspective because society and public institutions are the primary focus of this theory). For example, the theory is only concerned with the social status or powerful positions that people hold in society. Also, it focuses on pattern of social behaviors. Critics also do not appreciate that with functionalism concentrates on the needs of society as a whole rather than the needs of individual groups. Critics argue that the needs of the rich are not the same as the needs of the poor and functionalism does not differentiate between the differences. Critics make it a point to state that a society does not have needs but people do and it is the people that make society function.
In conclusion, it was very interesting to see the progression of structural-functionalism in society as it seems as if there has been a lot of progression throughout the years. Often times we just hear about the negative aspects of society because of the media reports and now the internet. However, it is always important to realize that there are societies that work together to promote the common good of everyone involved.
References
Moffitt, K. (n.d.). Structural-functional theory in sociology: Definition & examples - video & lesson transcript Available from http://study.com/academy/lesson/structural-functional-theory-in-sociology-definition-examples-quiz.html
Family Crisis - Five Major Theories Structural Functional Theory. Retrieved January 29, 2016, from http://www3.uakron.edu/witt/fc/fcnote5.htm
Boundless. “The Functionalist Perspective.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 12 Aug. 2015. Retrieved 29 Jan. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/sociology-1/theoretical-perspectives-in-sociology-24/the-functionalist-perspective-155-3284/
Alexander, Jeffrey C., ed. 1998. Neofunctionalism and after. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
Black, Max, ed. 1961. The social theories of Talcott Parsons. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Gouldner, Alvin. 1970. The coming crisis of western sociology. New York: Basic Books.
Menzies, Ken. 1976. Talcott Parsons and the social image of man. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
