447358976 Structural Functionalism

Structural
Functionalism
Structural functionalism, or simply
functionalism is essentially a sociology
theory that revolves around the notion
that a society is composed of a system
of interconnected parts that have their
own particular functions.
Functionalism views societal living as
shaped and guided by social structures,
or the patterns of social relationships
between groups or individuals.
Social structures formed among groups or
institutions are refered to as macrostructures,
which include religion, education, tradition,
and culture.
Social structures established among
individuals or within groups that result in
individual interactions are called
microstructures.
Education, as an example of a macrostructure,
shapes the minds of students to become
productive members of society.
Addressing elders with respect, as an
example of a microstructure, patterns
and shapes the younger generation to
promote social values.
The effects of social structures or
their purpose are called social
functions.
Every social structure has a
corresponding social function.
This relationship between social
structures and social functions are the
parts of system which structural
functionalism identifies and
investigates it perceives the city as
composed of structures and functions.
The end product of social structures is
not always what it was originally
intended for even immediately
knowledge.
To better understand functionalism, one can
use the human body as a point of analysis.
- Humans subsist through the various organs
that function differently yet symbiotically
with one another.
- These functions are often exclusive, such
that the stomach’s role is to process
sensory stimuli.
- When one function does not perform
properly, the entire organisms experiences
the effects of such malfunction.
In the same manner, society is
composed of various parts
(institutions and structures) that
functions under certain rules (norms).
When structures of society do not
function as the experienced chaos.
Key Concepts In Structural
Functionalism
Manifest and Latent Functions
- A manifest function is the predicted, intended,
expected and knowable effect of a social
structure. For example, people go to churches
inorder to pray and hear mass.
- A latent function is the unintended outcome of
social structure. So if the manifest function of
going to church is to pray and hear mass, its
latent function is to gather people together in
one place to reinforce the sense of community.
Manifest and Latent Dysfunction
- A manifest dysfunction is the
predicted, expected, and knowable
disruptions of a social structure.
• For example, a large gathering of
people such as concerts and other
events disrupts traffic flow within
the vicinity of the event, even
though it was not intended to do so.
-A latent dysfunction is the
unpredicted and unexpected
disruptions of social structures.
• For example, these are customers
who usually take pictures of their food
in social media. But since these
customers are not only doing so , the
average time spent by customers in
tables increased. The latent
dysfunction in this example is that the
Manifest and Latent Dysfunctions bring negative
effects of outcomes.
For the sociologist, studying manifest and latent
functions is a wat to promote the benefits of such
functions and further develop social structures.
But because manifest and latent dysfunctions are
contrary to the idea of systems in society,
sociologist to promote social stability and
solidarity.
Understanding manifest and latent dysfunction
helps sociologist assess risks and prepare
accordingly.
Important Theories
Auguste Comte
• Provided an analysis of social evolution
through his Law of Three Stages.
• Comte provided a theory of society and
man’s cognitive progression from religious
and abstract concepts to a scientific
perspective.
• Comte’s ideas are considered as the
precusor to strucural functionalism, as he
identified tradition
and social structures as elements in
shaping the society.
• The law of three Stages itself is a critique
of yhe social structures and of how humans
were shaped by progressive thinking.
Herbert Spencer
• Who is known as the first sociological

functionalist.
• His comparison of society to the human
body is
the overarching idea of structural
functionalism.
• Each social structure, just like a body
part, has a purpose and function in the
overall well being of the society.
Talcott Parsons
•Talcott Parsons viewed society as a

system.
•He argued that any social system has
•These can be seen as problems that
society must solve if it is to survive.
• The function of any part of the social
system is understood as its
contribution to meeting the functional
prerequisites.
Davies and Moore
Davis and Moore
In 1945, sociologists Kingsley Davis
and Wilbert Moore published
the Davis-Moore thesis, which
argued that the greater the
functional importance of a social
role, the greater must be the
reward.
The theory posits that social
stratification represents the
Robert Merton
Merton developed the concept of
‘anomie’ to describe this imbalance
between cultural goals and
institutionalised means.
He argued that such an imbalanced
society produces anomie – there is a
strain or tension between the goals and
means which produce unsatisfied
aspirations.

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• Who is known as the first sociological

•Talcott Parsons viewed society as a

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