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Major Sociological Paradigms: Crash Course Sociology #2

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Major Sociological Paradigms: Crash Course Sociology #2

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Major Sociological Paradigms: Crash Course Sociology #2

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Structural functionalism can be traced back to Emile Durkheim in 1983. Durkheim compared society to a human body. He further explains that the society functions through the collective work of its interdependent parts, similar to the human body that relies on the functions of its interdependent organs in order to live. Moreover, Durkheim claimed that in order to maintain the collective and harmonious relationship of the different parts of the society, it needs to be bounded by a common “social conscience”.

Durkheim's work was further developed by the numerous sociologists who agreed to the theory. Among which is A.R. Radcliffe Brown, in the 1950`s integrated the concept of social structure. Social structure according to Brown is a concept where the different parts of society is vital to its existence, thus, indispensable. On the other hand Talcott Parsons in the 1960`s also contributed to the development of the theory by establishing the concept of functional prerequisites, which describes the requirements regarding how the society will continue to survive. Moreover, together with Parsons, Robert K. Merton further enriched the theory by integrating the systems theory. This theory classifies the function of the different parts of the society.

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Robert Merton claimed that that social institutions has can have latent and manifest function:

Manifest Function- pertains to the expected consequences or outcomes (Ex. One of the School`s expected functions is the transmission and reinforcement of accepted culture of the society)

Latent Function- pertains to the hidden, unexplicit, or even unintended consequences of function of a social institution. (Ex. Courtship is an intended consequence of schooling)

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Societies have a tendency towards consensus, that is to have certain basic values that nearly everyone in the society agrees upon -

Cooperation – inability to cooperate will paralyze the society & people will devote more and more effort to fighting one another rather than getting anything done.

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Functions of Social Structure and Culture

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Functions of Social Structure and Culture

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Each part of the social system exists because it serves some function Social structure – organization of society, including institutions, social positions & distribution of resourcesCulture – set of beliefs, language, rules, values & knowledge held in common by members of society

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The Learners are viewed as passive recipients of knowledge due to their lack of knowledge and skills. Their selfish desires should be restrained. Moreover, learners are also assessed in a standardized perspective rather than considering their individual differences. Lastly, education serves as an avenue for the learners for their roles as an adult.

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In the lense of the structural functionalism, the purpose of education is to maintain the social cohesion and order by transmitting and inculcating the society's morals and values to the minds of the learners, thus establishing Social Control (Durkheim 1966, as cited in Introduction to Sociology, n.d.). Hence, education legitimizes the existing social arrangement instead of challenging the status quo.     On the other hand, Meighan (1986), given the principles of the Structural Functionalism influence in the educational system, it would also affect the three main components of schooling as follows:    Curriculum should only contain the accepted and collective culture of the society.

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The Teacher should enjoy the superior position above the learners. They are the main source of the knowledge inside the classroom and it is in their responsibility to maintain harmonic and conflict free social order.

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(1910-2003)

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(1858-1917)

“It is society which, fashioning us in its image, fills us with religious, political and moral beliefs that control our actions.”

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1902-1979

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(1881–1955)

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Society is made up of interdependent parts

- Every part of society is dependent to some extent on other parts of society