Functionalism

conseus thoery

• Was the first  theory to explain the functions of the society
• Functionalism was dominate till 1950's
• This is when people began to criticise the theory and was rejected by many
•  It is stil used to explain the function of our society
• fuctionalism is a conseus theory because it only looks at the positive functions  of our society and neglects the negative. 

• Mainly focuses on harmony  which is social solidairty
•  He suggests that all parts of the society work together like a human body which he named organic anology

• Parson agrees with Durkhiem's theory of  organic anology
•  he shows how all the main instituations are linked to each other
• Parts of all the societyperfome positive functions e.g. crime is positive it shows bounderies
• If one part of the society chnage  other will slowly evolve to adopt the change
• E.g. the family sturcture changed therefore the government polices have changed i.e welfare etc  

1. social instituations faces the main problems which must be resolved  for the society to survive
2.  He calls the need,   the 4 functional prequisites which means social needs
3. Two of these are  intergration and latency
4. Intergration =   is the development of a social insitution that seek to limit conflict in the society e.g. religion  in a capitalist society
5. Latency=  are the individuals beliefs and values which are meet through kinship relationships such as family

• It's a conseus theory which ingoners the conflict functions of the society
• Too  much sociolisation
•  It ingonres the inequality  generated in capitalist society