Analysis of Functionalist Perspective in Sociology: Assignment

This report provides an overview of the functionalist perspective in sociology, exploring its core principles and applications. It begins by introducing the perspective's founder, Émile Durkheim, and then delves into key concepts like interdependence, where societal elements are interconnected; the functions of social structure and culture, examining how these elements contribute to societal organization; consensus and cooperation, highlighting the shared values that bind societies; and the concept of equilibrium, which suggests a state of balance within a society. The report also discusses the structural-functional model, emphasizing the role of social structures in maintaining order and stability. Finally, the report touches upon modern functionalist theories of education, showcasing how education plays a crucial role in maintaining a democratic society by providing equal opportunities. This report offers a comprehensive understanding of the functionalist perspective and its relevance to understanding societal dynamics.

FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE-is primarily concern with why a society assumes
a particular form.
Emile Durkheim-a founder of sociology and is largely
credited with developing the functionalist perspective.

Key Principles of the functionalist
perspective(Farley,1990)
 1. Interdependency-is that society is made up of
interdependent parts. This means that every part of society is
dependent to some extent on other parts of society, so that
what happens at one place in society has important effects
elsewhere.

2. Functions of Social Structure and Culture-this principles is
applied both social structure and culture.
• Social structure refers to the organization of society,
including its institutions, its social positions, and its
distribution of resources.
• Culture refers to a set of beliefs, language, rules, values,
and knowledge held in common by members of a society.

3. Consensus and Cooperation- is that societies have a tendency toward
consensus; that is to have certain basic values that nearly everyone in
the society agrees upon. For example, our society agreed upon the
principles of freedom and democracy in order to achieve cooperation.
4. Equilibrium-this view holds that, once a society has achieved the
form that is best adapted to its situation, it has reached a state of
balance or equilibrium, and it will remain in that condition until it is
forced to change by some new.

Social Structures provide
present patterns which
evolve to meet human
needs
Stability, order, and
harmony
Maintenance of
society
The Structural-Function Model
• The structural functional model addresses the
question of social organization and how it is
maintained.

• In the study of society, asociologistwith this perspective tries
identify the structures of society and how they function, h
name structural functio-nalism.
• Functionalist maintain the social structures exist in socfor the
functions they haveto carry out.
• Structural functionalism putsemphasison social order and so
stability.
• Modern functionalist theories of education. From th
perspective, schooling performs an important function in
development and maintenanceof modern, democratic
society, especially with regard toequalityof opportunity for all
citizens.