Discovering Structural Functionalism

30 Questions

Who is considered the first true sociological functionalist?

Herbert Spencer

Who is widely considered the most important functionalist among positivist theorists?

Emile Durkheim

Which work of Herbert Spencer heavily influenced Emile Durkheim's analysis?

Principles of Sociology

Which term did Herbert Spencer use to refer to a social system?

Super-organic

According to Herbert Spencer, what causes society to adapt its internal structure?

Selection pressures

What are the three functional needs or prerequisites identified by Herbert Spencer?

Regulatory, operative, and distributive

In tribal societies, which structure satisfies the three functional needs?

Kinship system

According to Herbert Spencer, what emerges as a solution to problems in society with increasing population?

Differentiated structures

What do the structural parts of society do to help society function?

Function interdependently

What is the main focus of functionalism?

Preserving society

According to Auguste Comte, sociology is the product of a three-stage development. Which of the following is the correct order of these stages?

Theological stage, Metaphysical stage, Scientific stage

According to Émile Durkheim, what holds complex societies together?

Organic solidarity

What is the central concern of structural functionalism?

Maintaining internal stability and cohesion in societies

Which theorist proposed that most stateless societies are based on an association of corporate-descent groups?

Radcliffe-Brown

According to structural functionalism, how are social and cultural phenomena primarily analyzed?

In terms of their function and contribution to overall social equilibrium

Which political philosophers presented organic analogies for societies that influenced functionalism?

Rousseau and Locke

What does Durkheim refer to as 'social bonds, based on common sentiments and shared moral values, that are strong among members of pre-industrial societies'?

Mechanical solidarity

According to the text, what is the network of statuses connected by associated roles called?

Social structure

Which theorist proposed that the basic building block of society is the nuclear family?

Bronisław Malinowski

What does functionalism emphasize in contrast to conflict theories?

Cohesive systems

According to functionalism, society is seen as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This approach looks at society through a macro-level orientation and believes that society has evolved like organisms. Which of the following is NOT a key focus of functionalism?

Individual actors

According to functionalism, society can be compared to a 'body' with different 'organs' working together for the proper functioning of the whole. Who popularized this analogy?

Herbert Spencer

Which of the following best describes the relationship between functionalism and social science?

Functionalism describes a particular stage in the methodological development of social science.

According to functionalism, which field of science provides the closest and most compatible model for social science?

Biology

Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social structures in shaping society as a whole. Which of the following is a key component of social structures according to functionalism?

Values and beliefs

According to functionalism, what is the main focus of analyzing social and cultural phenomena?

Function and purpose

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of functionalist thought?

Individualism

According to functionalism, what holds complex societies together?

Shared moral values

Which of the following is NOT one of the three functional needs or prerequisites identified by Herbert Spencer?

Conflict

According to functionalism, what is the central concern of studying social systems?

Social order

Study Notes

Functionalism and Sociological Theory

Herbert Spencer is considered the first true sociological functionalist.
Auguste Comte is widely considered the most important functionalist among positivist theorists.
Herbert Spencer's work "Social Statics" heavily influenced Emile Durkheim's analysis.

Herbert Spencer's Functionalism

Spencer used the term "social system" to refer to a society.
According to Spencer, society adapts its internal structure in response to changes in the environment.
Spencer identified three functional needs or prerequisites: integration, regulation, and distribution.
In tribal societies, the kinship structure satisfies the three functional needs.
As population increases, social structures emerge as a solution to problems in society.

Functionalism and Society

The structural parts of society work together to help society function.
Functionalism focuses on the social structures that shape society as a whole.
The main concern of functionalism is understanding how social systems work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Other Theorists and Functionalism

Auguste Comte believed that sociology is the product of a three-stage development: theological, metaphysical, and scientific.
Emile Durkheim argued that social bonds, based on common sentiments and shared moral values, hold complex societies together.
According to Durkheim, these social bonds are strong among members of pre-industrial societies.
Durkheim referred to these social bonds as "mechanical solidarity".

Structural Functionalism

Structural functionalism analyzes social and cultural phenomena primarily through a macro-level orientation.
This approach looks at society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
The central concern of structural functionalism is understanding how social systems work together to promote solidarity and stability.
The nuclear family is proposed as the basic building block of society by some theorists.
Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social structures in shaping society as a whole, in contrast to conflict theories.

Key Components and Analogies

The network of statuses connected by associated roles is called a "status-role system".
Functionalism compares society to a 'body' with different 'organs' working together for the proper functioning of the whole.
This analogy was popularized by Herbert Spencer.
The field of biology provides the closest and most compatible model for social science, according to functionalism.
Social structures, such as kinship, are key components of social structures according to functionalism.

Test your knowledge on structural functionalism, a theoretical framework that views society as a complex system promoting solidarity and stability. Explore its macro-level orientation and its belief in society's evolution like organisms.

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