Airport Security Essay

778 Words4 Pages
Airport Security and the Sociological Paradigms I. Structural-Functional Paradigm In this course we learned to define the Structural-Functional Paradigm as the theoretical framework based on the assumption that society is a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. The basic idea behind this theory is that structure of a society is constantly looking to ensure that everything is working in harmony and making changes in an effort to keep the society stable. The two major components of the Structural-Functional paradigm are social structure and social functions. Social structure is any relatively stable pattern of social behavior. However, when a social structure no longer produces the same desired social function, that society will either change and adapt or cease to exist. Examples of social structures include families, communities, and other social circles. Social functions are the consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society as a whole. There are many social functions within any social structure, and these functions are often characterized into three main groups, Manifest Functions, Latent Functions, and Social Dysfunction. * Manifest Function- refers to the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern. This would be the ideal or intended outcome. * Latent Function- refers to the unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern. This would be something that was unexpected and accidental. * Social Dysfunction- refers to the undesirable consequences of any social pattern that could potentially disrupt the operation of society. This would be something that was also unintentional, but has a negative effect. Application to Airport Security For the example of Airport Security, many different social functions exist. Let’s focus primarily on airport security post 9/11.
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