functionalist sociology

Functionalist Sociology2
The Underlying Unity of the Paradigm
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Objectivism
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Introduce
As discussed in Burrel and Morgan there are 4 paradigm: Paradigm functionalist, interpretive paradigm, Paradigm and Paradigm Radical Radical Humanist Structuralists
The functionalist paradigm provides a framework for the implementation of academic sociology and organizational studies.
Application of functionalist paradigm characterized by a concern to provide an explanation of the status quo, social order, consensus, social integration, solidarity, need satisfaction and actuality.
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Explain the dominant framework for the analysis of contemporary sociology - structural functionalism and systems theory.
The term 'structural functionalism' and 'systems theory' is often seen interchangeable.
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Limitation
First, whereas in the case of the organism it is possible to study the organic structure independently of its function in the case of the community.
Second, it draws attention to the problem of morphogenesis. Society can change and their complex structural types without breach of continuity, the organism can not.
Third, it draws attention to the fact that the functional analysis of society, with emphasis on the contribution made to the survival and overall function, based on the hypothesis of a functional unity.
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In sociology, psychology, anthropology, archeology, linguistics, organization theory, industrial relations and other social science subjects, the theory has become the dominant system as an important method of analysis.
Von Bertalanffy want to use the concept of 'the system' as a means of cutting through substantive differences that exist between different academic disciplines.
The task of general systems theory is to discover the principles underlying the organization of the system. One common goal is to achieve 'unity of science' which is based isomorphy law in various fields (von Bertalanffy, 1956, p. 8).
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Organismic analogy built by Parsons' (1951) analysis of the social system
that the system can be identified by a kind of boundary that distinguishes it from its environment;
that the system is basically procedural in nature;
that this process can be conceptualized in terms of the basic model that focuses on the input, throughput, output and feedback;
that the overall operation of the system can be understood in terms of satisfying the needs of the system intended for the survival or achievement of homeostasis;
that the system consists of subsystems that contribute to the satisfaction of the needs of the whole system;
that this subsystem, which itself has limits that can be identified, are in a state of mutual dependence, both internally and in relation to their environment
that the operating system can be observed in terms of the behavior of its constituent elements;
that the activity is important in the context of the operating system are those that involve the transaction limit, both internally and externally between subsystems in relation to the environment.
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Interactionism and Social Action Theory
Interactionism and social action theory both can be understood as representing a fusion of certain aspects of German idealism and the Anglo-French sociological positivism.
As a means of presenting the essential characteristics of interactionism and the theory of action here, therefore, we will restrict our attention to the intellectual history directly.
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George Simmel is a philosopher and historian turned sociologist
His eclectic approach led to the development of a brand of sociology
He drove a middle way between idealism and positivism
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Interactionism
Interactionism is a theoretical perspective that derives social processes (such as conflict, cooperation, identity formation) from human interaction
It is the study of how individuals act within society
Simmel was interested on human beings in their social context, and describes it as “interactions among the atoms of society”
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Interactionism
Simmel saw social life as being characterised by a continous conflict between the individual and his social world, and conflict was inherent in social life
Coser describes Simmel’s view as an emphasis on a “dialectical tension between the individual and society”
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Each experience by either individual impacts the other
The relationship ceases to exist if either member departs
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A social group consisting of three equal members
Indirect relationship that can both assist and hinder reciprocity within the group
The group can survive if one member drops out, thus forming a new dyad
The introduction of the third person, can help and hinder the relationship of other group members
This person can become a mediator, can use the group to advance their own selfish agenda, and can use existing conflict to divide the group and take it over
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Main ideas:
The social self is composed of an active “I” that is independent of particular situations and a receptive “Me” that is situated and responsive.
The shape of “Me” is composed of the messages we receive by using others as mirrors of the self.
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Mead – Mind, Self and Society
In Mind, Self and Society, Mead seeks to establish how “mind” and “self” arise within the context of social conduct and interaction
Mind, Self and Society are predicated upon the existence of an external world which influences human thought and action
Society is ontologically prior to “mind” and “self”
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Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interaction theories focus on the interpretation (social meaning) that is given to behaviour, and on the way such interpretation helps to construct the social world, the identities of people, and, ultimately how they behave
All interaction theories are concerned with the way in which meaning is constructed
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Herbert Blumer
Symbolic interactionism, a study of human group life and conduct which holds the centrality of the production of meaning as central to human behaviour.
Three core principles to his theory. They are meaning, language, and thought
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Herbert Blumer
Meaning states that humans act toward people and things based upon the meanings that they have given to those people or things.
Language gives humans a means by which to negotiate meaning through symbols.
Thought, based on language, is a mental conversation or dialogue that requires role taking, or imagining different points of view
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Blumer Methodology
Study of conduct and group life, as these occur naturally in the everyday existence of people
Focuses on the importance of in-depth knowledge of the group using interviews and observations, and steering away from vagueness when defining concepts
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Introduced by Wilhelm Dilthey and elaborated by Weber
A method to observe how human behaviors relate to cause and effect in the social realm
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Weber constructed a typology of social action which distinguished between:
Action oriented to tradition
Action which was rationally orientated towards some absolutely value
Action which was rationally orientated towards the achievement of spesific ends, and in which the relative advantages and disadvantages of alternative means are take into account
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Integrative Theory
Integrative theory is use to characterise the brand of sociological theorising which occupies the middle ground within the functionalist paradigm
It seeks to integrate various elements of interactionism and social systems theory and, in certain cases, to counter the challenge to the functionalist perspective posed by theories characteristic of the radical structuralist paradigm, particularly those of Marx.
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Conflict Functionalism
Merton’s argument was directed againts 3 central Postulate of traditional functional analysis :
Postulate of the functional unity of society
Postulate of universal functionalism
Societies are not unitary in nature
Societies may have non functional elements
Societies are quite capable of dispensing with certain activities without prejudice to their survival and , in any case, are capable of developing alternatives.
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Integrative Theory (cont’d)
Merton’s critique paved the way for an approach to functional analysis which, in contrast to traditional functionalism, sees the nature of social order as essentially problematic, allows analysis to take place from a variety of perspectives and gives full recognition to the process of social change.
Coser Essay
Coser systematically analysis the manner and conditions under which social conflict may contribute to the maintenance, adjustment or adaption of social relationships and social structures
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Objectivism
Objectivism refer to consderable amount of sociological work located on the objectivist boundary of the functionalist paradigm.
The relationship between social systems theory and objectivism is thus obviously a close one.
Two broad types of objectivism : Behaviorism amd abstracted empiricism
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Behaviorism
The notion of behaviorism is most often associated with the work of B.F Skinner, who has attempted to develop causal theories of behavious based upon an analysis of stimulus and response.
According to Skinner perspective :
The study of human behaviour is very much an activity aimed at the discovery of universal laws and regularities.
Skinner’s perspective is a highly coherent and consistent.
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Abstracted empiricism is identified as being characteristic of the objectivist boundary of the functionalist paradigm.
It represent research in which the social world is treated methodologically as if it were a world of hard, concrete, tangible reality, whereas theoritically it is conceived as being of a more subjectivist nature.
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The Underlying Unity of the Paradigm
This process of fusion and incorporation is reflected in the position which the resulting theory occupies on the two analytical dimensions of the paradigm :
The German idealist tradition has influenced emergence of functionalist theories of a more subjectivist orientation.
The Marxist tradition is reflected in the functionalist theories which focus upon conflict and change.
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functionalist sociology

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