Structural

Functionalism
Structural Functionalism

▣ Earliest sociological paradigm

▣ sociological framework that sees society as a

number of complex parts that form a stable
and functional whole.

▣ This approach looks at society through a

macro-level orientation, which is a broad
focus on the social structures that shape
society as a whole, and believes that society
has evolved like organisms.
▣ Herbert Spencer
approached the study
of social structures
through an “organic
analogy”.
▣ In this model, he
viewed society as being
similar to a body. Just
as the various organs in
the body work together
to keep the entire
system functioning and
regulated, the various
parts of society work
together to keep the
entire society
functioning and
regulated.
▣ Also saw similarities in
the way physical bodies
and societies evolve

▣ coined the term

survival of the fittest
▣ Emile Durkheim
refined organic
analogy into
structural-
functionalism. (also
called functionalism
or the functionalist
paradigm)

▣ Views society as a
complex system of
interrelated parts
working together to
maintain stability
 Functionalist Paradigm

1
A social system’s
parts are
interdependent
Any changes in
society occur in

2
The system has a “normal”
healthy state of structured,
equilibrium, analogous to
a healthy body evolutionary ways.

When disturbed, the

3 system parts reorganize

and readjust to bring the
system back to a state of
equilibrium
▣ Emile Durkheim
refined organic
analogy into
structural-
functionalism. (also
called functionalism
or the functionalist
paradigm)

▣ Views society as a
complex system of
interrelated parts
working together to
maintain stability
▣ He realized that
society influences our
human actions but
that society is also
something that exists
beyond individuals

▣ He felt that society

must be studied and
understood in terms
of what he called
social facts.

▣ Saw this system of

social facts as making
up the structure of
society
 Laws
Cultural
and social Morals
rules

Rituals
Social Values
facts

Religious
Fashions
beliefs

Customs
▣ Talcott Parsons
(1902-1979)
championed
functionalism.

▣ Known for his grand

theory, an abstract
level of theorizing
that tried to explain
the entire social
structure at once
and was difficult, if
not impossible, to
test through
research
▣ Robert K. Merton
(1910-2003), Parsons’
student favors what
he called theories of
the middle-range.

▣ Middle-range
theories are theories
that are more limited
and can be tested
through research.

▣ Also showed that

social patterns are
complex, with various
parts of society
fulfilling different
types of functions.
 Social Functions

Manifest functions Latent functions

• Obvious and intended • Less organized and

unintended

These functions may be either beneficial or neutral.

Dysfunctions
• Functions that may be
undesirable

As one part of the system changes, other parts of the system have to readjust to accommodate
the change that has taken place elsewhere.
Social Structure
ritu
▣ Relatively stable al
patterns of social
behavior
fait econo
h Social
my

Structu
re

educati famil
on y
Social Structure ▣ Education

▣ Relatively stable
patterns of social
behavior

Social Function ▣ Socialization

▣ Consequences for the ▣ Learning
operation of society as ▣ Social
a whole placement
Key Ideas!
▣ Society is made-up
of groups or
institutions, which
are cohesive, share
common norms, and
have a definitive
culture
▣ The way society is
organized is the
most natural and
efficient way for it to
be organized.
Gender Inequality and Structural
Functionalism

According to Structural Functionalist thought:

▣ women being subordinate to men allows the
cogs of society to function smoothly as
everyone in the society knows his or her
respective position in the hierarchy.
▣ The implication, of course, is that, because
society is functioning smoothly with gender
stratification, such stratification is acceptable
and efforts should not be made to change the
arrangement.
▣ society is made-up ▣ views society as
of groups or constantly striving
institutions, which to be at a state
are cohesive, share of equilibrium,
common norms, and which suggests
have a definitive there is an inherent
culture drive within human
societies
to cohere or stick
together.
Criticism
Criticism
 Criticism on Functionalism

The functionalist focus on social order cannot

adequately explain social change

Focus on order discounts the conflicts and tensions

that exist within society

It downplays the impact of factors such as race, class,

and gender that impact our lives and social positions

Being tautological meaning it makes circular

arguments
• Argument that because something exists, it serves a function for
the system, and thus it exists
Birth of Neofunctionalism

▣ Expands on the structural functionalism’s

perspective by trying to respond to critics in
such ways as incorporating some of the ideas
of conflict theorists and also recognizing the
importance of the micro perspective.
References:

The Basics of Sociology

By Kathy S. Stolley

Introduction to Sociology
Blacksleet River