Functionalism and Conflict Theory in Sociology

SOCIOLOGY
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Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Overview of Functionalism Theory.................................................................................................3
Overview of Conflict Theory...........................................................................................................4
Analysing the institutions of the society based on macro-approaches relating to functionalist and
conflict theories...............................................................................................................................4
Role of family in Society.................................................................................................................6
Comparison and Conflicts relating to the two theories...................................................................6
Control Theory.................................................................................................................................6
Anomie Theory................................................................................................................................7
Analysis of the deviance..................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................10
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Introduction
The behaviour of human society is developed in the sociology that reveals the structural and
functional perspective of the human behaviour. Functionalism helps to understand the different
steps that are involved in the stabilisation of the entire society. However, the conflict theory
explains the different adversities faced in the society due to uneven distribution of resources that
led towards discrimination in the society concepts. In this essay, functionalism and conflict
theory are discussed and the contrasting sociological perspective that they present have been
analysed. This allows understanding of the various aspects of functionalist and conflict theories
along with their overall view on the sociological aspect.
Overview of Functionalism Theory
Emile Durkheim Functionalism theory helps to understand the contribution of different parts
belonging to a society that helps to maintain the stability of the society. As commented by Jones
(2013, p.88), Durkheim thought society to be an organism that is unable to work properly
without the coordinative help from the different parts within the society. Moreover, the society
cannot function properly if a certain part of the society acts as an individual. As argued by Isajiw
(2013, p.199), the society will then fall or will be a crisis that will result in the other part of the
society to suffer and aims towards conflict within. This, in turn, results in disruption of the
stability of the society and a chaotic environment is formed. However, observations have
indicated that the society somehow manages to prevent complete collapse due to its unaffected
parts having the tendency to help in the eradication of the disruptions that arose in the first place.
The theory explains the society to have different forms of social institutions like education,
family, and religion along with political and economic institutions. These institutions are the
basic parts of the society that fulfil the different needs by the people of the society. As mentioned
by Mulkay (2014, 78), the institutions have their different role or responsibilities that are needed
in order to form and shape the structure of the society in a proper way. The different parts of the
society are interrelated and thus a coordinative working of the society is needed. Thus, the
institutions have an important role in framing the society properly. As argued by Barrett (2016,
p.160), if the institutions in any case do not play their important role, then the society is
susceptible to collapse. Moreover, in time new institutions are created that are needed in order to
develop and evolve the society structure. However, the theory does not reflect the negative
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