Functionalism is a macro theory, which looks at society as a whole rather than focuses on each individual. It is a theory that concentrates on the harmony between social institutions in society that is based on a consensus view rather than a conflict view as a Marxism theory. As a comparison to society as a whole, Functionalists use an organic analogy as an example. Each organ of the human body has a different job to do and if one part became ill or diseased, the rest could be contaminated or will produce changes in other parts. Similarly the operation of any society is dependent on its social institutions as they provide vital functions which maintain harmony, stability and solidarity within a society.
EMA are paid weekly to students that come from low income background. This move was invented in order to give equal opportunities to materially and culturally deprived family back grounds so that their achievement levels improve within the academic. Other policy such as Compensatory education policies (CEP’s) was introduced by Tony Blair in 1997 and was aimed to extend the academic period among school children from the age of 16 to the age of 18. This policy was aimed to reduce the socio-economic disadvantages which could include restricting equal educational opportunities from students from culturally deprived background originally focusing on working class children in UK. There are two arguments within the educational system;
For example, society works best when everyone ‘plays’ their part. This is a continuous cycle. An example of this is when the government provides education for the children. The parents of these children need to pay tax to the government to allow their government to be able to run schools. The family in turn will rely on the educated child to grow up and have a good job, so that when they have their own children they are able to pay taxes towards their children’s education and so on.
SOCIOLOGY THEORIES SOCIOLOGY THEORIES _____________________________________________________________________ Functionalism According to the functionalist perspective each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society’s functioning as a whole. The government, or state, provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends on to keep itself running. That is, the family is dependent on the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own families. In this process, the children become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, who in turn support the state. Functionalists believe that society is held together by social consensus or cohesion, in which members of the society agree upon, and work together to achieve what is best for the community as a whole.
For example education has a function to make sure people are educated and conform to works place norms. Functionalist sees the family as an important sub system. For example George Peter Murdock argues that the family performs four important functions; stable satisfaction of the sex drive, preproduction of the next generation, socialisation of the young and meeting its member’s economic needs. Other sociologists have criticised Murdock’s functionalist approach. Marxists and feminists reject his consensus view that the family meets the needs of both wider society and all members of the family.
What are the major contemporary sociological perspectives? Functionalist perspectives assume that society is a stable, orderly system characterized by societal consensus. Conflict perspectives argue that society is a continuous power struggle among competing groups, oft en based on class, race, ethnicity, or gender. Symbolic interactionist perspectives focus on how people make sense of their everyday social interactions. Perspective---- Analysis Level----- View of Society Functionalist---- Macrolevel----- Society is composed of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability within society.
Along with academia advances culture through knowledge, helps to prevent sociology economic inequalities as it breaks through boundaries of human ignorance and fear. In result helps socie4ties to avoid repeated historical mistakes and serves as a check on the government by keeping citizens informed of civic affairs. Business provides exchange, commerce, and ultimately widespread prosperity. Through a free market economy prices often decrease in competition and innovation. Also
Durkheim argued that society has to feel a sense of social solidarity , he believes that without this form of social cohesion , society would be impossible because each person would pursue their own ‘ selfish’ desires. Durkheim transmits the thoughts that education transmits social solidarity by enforcing ones country heritage and history. This shared heritage acts as start of social solidarity for later life. He also believes school acts as a microcosm of society , expressing co-operation and interactions with colleagues. Talcott Parsons believes that school is a focal socialising agency, acting as a bridge between family and wider society, this is enforced because families and society act on different levels.
Now people’s ideologies are influenced by the education system, which is now the main agency of control within society. People are now entitled to more choices and their acceptance comes from their experience of education. Althusser states people used to accept their position in society because they believed it to be ‘gods will’. This theory suggests that if individuals are going to accept inequality their ideologies need to be controlled and the only way to accomplish this is to become a teacher and to control the society through power. Education according to Althusser reproduces inequality by preparing pupils for work in the wider society.
CRIME AND DEVIANCE Deviancy is any behaviour that defies the norms of a particular social group. It is anti-social behaviour/or non-normative behaviour or behaviour that does not conform to societal expectations. Definition: American sociologists Marshall Clinard cited in Haralambos and Holborn (1995:387) defines deviancy as, “Any behaviour that is in a disapproved direction and of a sufficient degree to exceed the tolerance limit of that community. This definition has been criticised for ignoring those forms of deviancy which are tolerable. - Deviancy should be viewed as arelative act i.e.