Structural_Functionalism.

Structural Functionalism By: Brittany Rose Structural Functionalism, also known as the functionalist theory, is the view of society as an ordered system of interrelated parts, or structures, which are the social institutions that make up a society. This includes family, education, politics, and the economy. This theory draws inspiration from the thoughts of Emile Durkheim between 1858 and 1917. He worked to establish sociology as an important academic discipline, and was interested in the social factors that bond people together. He stated that people’s bonds were based on the tasks they performed, interdependence, and individual rights. Durkheim argued that deviance is necessary in contributing social order to a society. Deviance fulfills four functions. One includes the affirmation of cultural norms and values. Punishing a person for a deviant act solidifies the idea to the society that this act is unacceptable. For example, being sent to detention for fighting reinforces the idea to students that fighting is unacceptable in school. Deviance also helps to show society what is right and what is wrong. When a student does not attend class every day and ends up failing that course, this shows that poor attendance is not acceptable. Deviance also brings people together in a society. Responses to these acts of deviance make people feel closer together as a society. For example, when people witness animals being abused, they come together to try to save up money to help these animals. One group includes the ASPCA. These people feel a sense of grief and sorrow for these animals, making them feel united as a group working towards a greater cause. This can also promote social changes, since deviance encourages the dominant society to consider alternative norms or values. This includes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, which helped to bring rights to African Americans. Sociologist Robert Merton also contributed to the theory of structural functionalism. He stated that strain theory is when people experience strain or frustration when they are prevented from achieving culturally approved goals through institutionalized means. This leads to deviance. Not having access to institutional means to achieve success leads people to experience anomie. This is defined as the feelings of being disconnected from a society. The origins of sociology as a discipline began in Europe in the early nineteenth century. However, it was not until a hundred years later that sociology in the United States became institutionalized. Following World War 2, higher education systems were being expanded. This lead people to believe that the middle twentieth century was the high point for sociological theory in the United States. An English sociologist named Herbert Spencer also helped formalize structural functionalism. Spencer’s intention was to support a societal form of natural selection. One of the primary findings in his work was societal equilibrium. Spencer argued that there is a natural tendency in society towards equilibrium. Therefore, even when the conditions of the society are altered, the resulting changes so the social structure will balance out, returning the society to equilibrium. Structural functionalism reached the peak of its influence in the 1940’s and 1950’s. However, by the 1960’s it rapidly declined. This was due to the criticism that this theory was unable to account for social change, or for structural contradictions and conflict. This caused it to be often called the consensus theory. Emile Durkheim is the central figure in functionalist theory. He was born in Epinal, France. He came from a family of French Jews, and began his education in a rabbinical school. This is because his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all been rabbis. Later he decided to switch schools and not follow what his family had done. He entered the Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) in 1879. He taught philosophy from 1882 to 1887 at several schools, and in 1885 he left for Germany. For two years he studied sociology there. Durkheim had two children with Louise Dreyfus, whom he married in 1887. Durkheim’s first major work was published in 1893, called The Division of Labor in Society. The concept of anomie, or the breakdown of the influence of social norms on individuals within a society, was introduced. The Rules of Sociological Method was published in 1895, which was his second major work. It stated that sociology is and how it ought to be done. His third major work, Suicide: A Study in Sociology, was published in 1897. This examined the suicide rates of Protestants and Catholics, arguing that stronger social control among Catholics results in lower suicide rates. The underlying premise of structural functionalism is that we are where we will be most functional for the benefit of society as a whole. Structures help to make up our society, bringing equilibrium. One point that I find interesting about this theory is its criticisms. One criticism was the theory’s tendency to attribute needs to a society. This does not allow you to realize that individuals themselves can alter these social institutions, downplaying the role of individuals in a society. In a way I do agree with this criticism. The theory was focused on social institutions, rather than individuals. For example, the President of the United States may view education as less important to society, cutting budgets for schools. This can destroy the social institution of education, completely changing society. This changes what people view as valued in their society. Another point I find interesting about this theory is the feeling of anomie. This is the sense of disconnection to society. Suicide was a result to this feeling, and the more focused you are in family, religion, or work, the less anomie you will feel. I strongly agree with this point. I have noticed based on personal experiences that when people cannot find work or a spouse, they feel as though they are of no use to the society. Your work and family define who you are as a person, and this is what is thought to be the acceptable way to live in society today. The only element about this theory that I find outdated is the narrow research of social institutions alone. I think that individuals have needs, not society. Structural functionalism underestimates the power of one individual to change social institutions. While these institutions do affect individuals, these can be changed as individuals themselves change. If people find education no longer useful, it will cease to exist. Institutions themselves would cease to exist without individuals themselves. Crime can be explained through the theory of structural functionalism. When a person feels disconnected to his or her society, they may feel a sense of anomie. People feel disconnected to their society when they cannot meet social needs. For example, in society today you are not successful unless you hold a job. When a person cannot receive a job, they may act out in a deviant way out of frustration. A person may sell drugs in order to get the money they need, since they cannot receive a means of income. This person is later sent to jail, when in reality they may have just been trying to make the money that they needed to survive. This deviant act shows society what is right or wrong by punishment of jail time. Crime may increase due to people’s feelings of anomie. Jail serves as a social institution that teaches people the difference between right and wrong, keeping equilibrium in society. Citations Ferris, Kerry. Stein, Jill. (2012) The Real World An Introduction to Sociology. Norton & Company, Incorporated, W. W. Keel, Robert. O. (2013, August 28th). Emile Durkheim. www.umsl.edu. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from www.umsl.edu/~keelr/3210/3210_lectures/durkheim.html.