Functionalism SOC110: Introduction to Sociology Sarah Goodrum, Ph.D.

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FunctionalismSOC110 Introduction to
SociologySarah Goodrum, Ph.D.

• Functionalism (an overview)
• Durkheims Social Solidarity

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Functionalism (an overview)

• society is a complex system whose parts work
  together to promote stability
• i.e., all the parts of the system fit together

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Questions for and Types of Function

• Functionalists ask
• What are the consequences (not the purpose) of a
  given part of the system?
• because a part can have an unintended function
• Functionalists Emphasize 3 Elements
• the general interrelatedness, or interdependence,
  of the systems parts
• the existence of a normal state of affairs, or
  state of equilibrium (comparable to the
  normal/healthy state of an organism) and
• the way that all the parts of the system
  reorganize to bring things back to normal.
• adapted from Wallace and Wolf (1995)

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Types of Functions Robert Merton (1968)

• Manifest Function consequence that is obvious
  and intended
• e.g.,
• Latent Function a consequence that is
  unrecognized and unintended
• e.g.,
• Dysfunction a negative consequence that may
  disrupt the social system
• e.g.,

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Photo-Documentary Project on Welfare MomsThe
Photo-Documentary Press, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL

• This project documented the story of Laura
  (27years), mother of Malique and Dineja. Laura
  admits to making some wrong turns early in life.
  She is a full-time community college student and
  a "welfare mom."
• She does not want welfare to be a way of life.
• Laura is studying for her A.A. degree and hopes
  to work in the justice system someday.

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Emile DurkheimDivision of Labor in Society

• Durkheim emphasized
• integration (or solidarity) as important for the
  maintenance of social equilibrium
• social solidarity the bond between individuals
  in a society
• mechanical solidarity homogeneous (or
  primitive) society simple division of labor
• order created through collective conscience
• organic solidarity heterogeneous (or modern)
  society complex division of labor
• order created through division of labor

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DOL Changes Social Solidarity

• Durkheim believed
• that the growing division of labor (i.e., the
  specialization by individuals or groups in
  particular economic activities) in society
  characterized the historical development from
  primitive (mechanical) -gt modern (organic)
  society
• this division of labor changed
• the nature of social solidarity and
• the source of social order

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How Solidarity Works . . .

• collective conscience totality of believes and
  sentiments common to average citizens of the same
  society
• punishment social reaction to crime serves to
  reaffirm the collective conscience in primitive
  society it is repressive and in modern society it
  is restitutive, according to Durkheim
• but . . .
• dynamic density number of people in society and
  the amount of interaction between them