STRUCTURALIST THEORIES
Functionalism dominated after WWII, Marxism was popular in the '60's. Both have been criticized by action and postmodernist approaches.
FUNCTIONALIST THEORY
Main Assumptions
- Structuralist theory -- external social forces limit individual behaviour.
- Consensus theory -- Social order is based on shared values.
- Society is a system of interrelated parts.
- The system has it's own needs to remain stable.
- Functions are the ways that social arrangements meet the needs of the system.
- Social arrangements eg. family, adapt to meet the needs of the system, this change is gradual and evolutionary.
- Inequality is functional for society.
- Functionalism is associated with the positivist approach and scientific quantitative methods.
Evaluation
Arguments for
It explains predictable patterns of behaviour within social groups, i.e. social facts, and explains the influence of culture and society on individuals, in contrast to biology and psychology.
Against
Conflict theories challenge the consensual view of society e.g. on inequalitgy. Action theories challenge the over-socialized few of individuals; this is seen as justifying the status quo.
Main Applications
Functionalism can be applied to nearly all topics. E.g. Durkheim's suicide study.
Main Writers
- Durkheim, said moren consensus, the collective conscience' is society's base. He distinguished ways in which simple societies as well as modern industrial societies are integrated.
- Parsons said there are four functional needs of social systems:
- Adaptation, via economic activity, to the environment.
- Pattern Maintenance, motivating individuals to conform. Pattern maintenance is usually called social control by Durkheim and most others.
- Integration, the need for social solidarity.
- Goal attainment, achieved by getting resources by people in authority.
MARXISM
Main Assumptions
- Structuralist theory
- Conflict theory, order imposed by ruling class.
- Explanations are based on the relationship between the economy between the economy (the substructure) and all other social arrangements and ideas (the superstructure).
- Social change comes from class struggle.
Evaluation
Arguments for
Importance of social class and the economy in explaining social arrangements and class is accepted by many sociologists. concepts of cultural reproduction, ideology, and false consciousness have been adopted by other theories, notably feminism.
Against
Consensus theories challenge that conflict is normal and will lead to change. Action theory since Weber has said there's too much emphasis on economic explanations. Other conflict theories claim the Marxist focus on class doesn't explain gender and ethnic inequality adequately. Note, oppressive, failed/failing communist regimes.
Main Applications
Social class questions are often debated with Marxist views. For most other topics, you can say that institutions and ideas are part of the superstructure of capitalist society.
Main Writers
Althussier said ideas and institutions of the superstructure were largely independent of economic substructrure yet supported it through isa ideological state apparatus (which controls peoples minds) and rsa's repressive state apparatus, which uses force.
Marcuse dwelt on the illusion of democratic freedom, false consumer needs encouraged by advertising, both created by capitalism and both maintaining false consciousness.
Extra Information
Look at similarities as well as differences
Questions about family, education, religion and deviance and often be based on a debate with the funcionalist approach.