Structural-Functionalism-Manifest-and-Latent PDF

Structural Functionalism lesson and Activities How did you find the activity? How did you feel while doing the activity? How did you structure your community? What did you prioritize in your choice of institution? How did the structures “function” in the society? Have you heard of the Structural-F...

Structural Functionalism lesson and Activities How did you find the activity? How did you feel while doing the activity? How did you structure your community? What did you prioritize in your choice of institution? How did the structures “function” in the society? Have you heard of the Structural-Functionalism Theory? How do we see social reality? How should we see it? How do we intend to change or reform it? Structural-Functionalism The organization of society and the relationships between broad social units, such as Institutions. The group is the unit of analysis. Structuralism is a school of thought that focuses on the over- all STRUCTURE of a society – the parts in constitute and their relationship toward one another. Structuralists believe that the things happening in a society cannot be understood if they are studied in isolation. Instead, each part has to be seen in the context of the larger and over- arching structure they take part. Let us examine the answers from your activity. Let us say that I am a “structuralist” and the focus of my study would be your life during the pandemic. I will be interested in understanding not only one aspect of your life. I will follow these steps to understand and interpret your actions. It can be: a. crowd of people in a movie theatre b. members of the family sitting around the dinner table c. “small groups”. Corporations, factories, university systems, and even communities are groups, too. Structural Functional Theory (SFT) allows for major institutions, such as economy, religion, polity, education and family to be considered groups. Robert K. Merton was the proponent of structural- functionalist approach. Manifest Functions are those functions that are intended and expected in social patterns or institutions. Oftentimes, the manifest functions of a social group align with that group’s goals. In other words, groups or institutions act in such a way as to bring about the resulting manifest functions. According to the structural-functionalist perspective, a manifest function is something that a social group or institution does that is intentional and beneficial to society. A latent function is beneficial to society, but is an unintended by-product of a manifest function. A manifest function of education is to teach children subjects like math, reading, and writing. A manifest function of religion is to give people a purpose in life. A latent function is beneficial to society, but is an unintended by-product of a manifest function. These are unintended by- products or consequences of a social pattern or institution and they go often unnoticed by society. These are unplanned. Structural functionalism theory states that, due to the interconnectedness of society, and its many institutions, the manifest and latent functions of one part of society impact the other part of society. For example, the latent function of cell phones may be to provide a distraction from boredom, the latent function of clothing may be to attract mates, and the latent function of a wedding may be to provide an opportunity for extended families to socialize. Merton developed the ideas of manifest and latent functions, and dysfunctions, as parts of activities and institutions. Manifest functions are the intended consequences of a situation, while latent functions are unintended. Dysfunctions are elements in a society that negatively disrupt/affect the social system. Dysfunction Despite our premise that the social institutions perform their manifest and latent functions together to attain stability, it is still necessary for us to accept that in reality, not everyone will contribute to the same purpose. Even structuralists and functionalists recognize the fact that there are parts of society that are considered problematic. Let us examine your answers from the activity. Isn’t it true that even with continuous reminders from the authorities, there are still Filipinos who purposefully deviate from the norm and violate the regulations? But to be fair, it has been obvious that even the persons in authority, who are expected to live by the expectations they set for the rest of the citizens, are also violators of the rules they create. These problematic parts that bring instability in the society are referred to as Dysfunction. Conformity: individuals are following a societal goal through legitimate means. Although a conformist may not necessarily achieve the societal goal, he has enough faith in society to follow legitimate means. For example, a student who is going to school to advance a professional career is conforming, as he is following the American cultural value of success through an approved means (Inderbitzen, Bates, & Gainey 2016). Innovation: the individual shares the cultural goal of the society but reaches this goal through illegitimate means. Thieves – who share the cultural goal of wealth obtainment but do so through breaking the law (such as drug dealing or embezzlement), are innovators. Ritualists: individuals who have given up hope of achieving society’s approved goals but still operate according to society’s approved means. A member of middle management, for example, who accepts that they will never progress but stays in their position is a ritualist. Retreatists (like dropouts or hermits): individuals who have rejected both a society’s goals and the legitimate means of obtaining them and live outside conventional norms altogether. Drug addicts and figures such as Chris McCandleless — an Emory University graduate found dead in Alaska after attempting to reject capitalism, hitchhike north, and live off the land — a retreat from both societal rule and societally-approved means (Krakauer 2018). Rebellion exists outside of Merton’s system altogether. Rebels aim to replace societal goals with those of their own and devise their own means of achieving them. The most obvious examples of rebellion are terrorist organizations, which attempt to advance a goal, typically political, through means such as violence (Inderbitzen, Bates, & Gainey 2016) Dysfunction in Sociology Dysfunction occurs when social institutions do not positively contribute to the maintenance of society but cause disharmony and conflict rather than coherence and integration. The term was used by Merton to produce a more flexible functionalism, by doing away with the necessity for everything which existed in society to have a positive function for the maintenance of society. Social dysfunctions are undesirable consequences that result when the structure of a social system is maladapted to the functions it is intended to perform. There are four main types of social dysfunctions (Johnson, 2013): 1.Maladaptive dysfunctions are those that prevent individuals or groups from adapting to their environment. Examples include poverty, crime, and poor health. 2.Interpersonal dysfunctions refer to problems within relationships between people. Examples include domestic violence, bullying, and racism. 3.Organizational dysfunctions occur when the structure or functioning of an organization is negatively impacted. Examples include corrupt business practices and inefficient government. Societal dysfunctions are those that affect the whole of society. Examples include war, poverty, and crime. Manifest & Latent Dysfunctions Manifest dysfunctions are negative consequences that are anticipated. For example, the building of a shopping mall may cause authorities to anticipate increased traffic jams in the area where it is built. Latent dysfunctions, meanwhile, are unintended and unrecognized negative consequences of a structure. An example of a latent dysfunction in the previous instance may be closing small businesses in the surrounding area due to competition from the chain stores serving the shopping mall (Merton, 1957). Latent dysfunctions may manifest over time as the underlying causes come to light. For example, poor urban planning may increase crime rates as populations grow, and denser living conditions provide more opportunities for criminal activity. Similarly, a lack of investment in public education may lead to higher rates of unemployment and poverty later on as the illiterate population is less able to compete for jobs. Merton believed society could develop alternatives to current institutions by analyzing their dysfunctions. What causes social dysfunction? This can be due to a lack of resources, unequal distribution of resources, or simply a lack of understanding of the issue at hand. Whatever the cause, social dysfunctions can have a profound and negative impact on the individuals affected and society as a whole (Fallding, 1963). There are several different sociological theories that attempt to explain the root causes of social dysfunction. One such theory is functionalism, which posits that all parts of society work together to contribute to the stability and functioning of that society. However, if one part of society does not work properly, it can throw off the entire system. For example, a government’s bureaucracy may be designed to enable people to gain access to essential services in a society. However, the latent dysfunction of slowness may make the process of receiving these services long and arduous, lowering the efficacy of the departments where the bureaucracy acts as gatekeepers (Fallding, 1963). Another theory, conflict theory, suggests that social dysfunctions are caused by the unequal distribution of resources in society. This inequality can lead to tension and conflict between different groups, which can, in turn, lead to social dysfunction. For example, if there is a shortage of jobs, those who do have jobs may be overworked, leading to increased stress and conflict. Alternatively, those who are unemployed may become desperate and turn to criminal activity to make ends meet, increasing crime rates (Fallding, 1963). Examples of Social Dysfunction Social dysfunction of family A family is a social unit consisting of parents and their children. The family is the basic unit of society and plays a vital role in the socialization of children. However, not all families are functional. Some families may be considered dysfunctional due to a variety of factors, such as alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, physical abuse, or simply a lack of love and communication. When a family is dysfunctional, it can have a negative impact on the individuals involved as well as on society as a whole. Children from dysfunctional families are more likely to experience problems in school, mental health issues, and substance abuse problems. They may also be more likely to engage in criminal activity (Bertrand, 1962). In addition, dysfunctional families often place a strain on social services such as welfare, healthcare, and law enforcement. This can have spill-over effects that, in turn, lead to higher dysfunction in larger institutions. As a result, addressing family dysfunction is critical to the health of any society. Social dysfunction of community A community is a group of people who live in the same area and share a common culture. The community is an important unit of society, as it provides individuals with a sense of belonging and identity. However, not all communities are functional. Some communities may be considered dysfunctional due to a variety of factors, such as poverty, crime, violence, substance abuse, or simply a lack of social cohesion. Communities that are not necessarily impacted by poverty, crime, violence, and substance abuse can also be dysfunctional. For example, many people living in spaced-out suburban developments report lower levels of interaction and belonging with neighbors and, consequently, higher levels of loneliness. Sociologists, such as Robert D. Putnam, have argued that the development of social capital, which refers to the networks of relationships between people, is essential for a functional community but has been diminishing and has consequently caused Americans to disengage from political and civic involvement, leading possibly to the undermining of democracy and trust of the government (Putnam, 2000). What is Durkheim's theory on the division of labor? In modern, complex societies, there is a division of labor in which people do different types of jobs. An example of a society that does not have a division of labor would be old farming communities where every family provides for their own needs such as food, clothing, education, and more. An example of a society with a division of labor would be modern-day New York City. Why is Emile Durkheim theory of functionalism important? Durkheim's theory of functionalism is vital because it is the basis of structural functionalism theory, one of the three major sociological theories. Functionalism explains how the parts of society work together and how that influences individual behavior. What four concepts did Emile Durkheim contribute to sociology? Durkheim posited several notable theories in his lifetime. In his theory of functionalism, he contributed the concepts of social facts, division of labor, solidarity, and anomie to the field of sociology. What was Durkheim's theory about alienation? Without common beliefs, values, rules, and structures for society, there is no collective consciousness. This means each person chooses their own ideas and values, isolating and alienating people from one another. Alienation is a symptom of anomie. What is Emile Durkheim most known for? Emile Durkheim is most known for his theories regarding functionalism, division of labor, solidarity, and anomie. He theorized that individual behavior is not only influenced by internal factors but also by external societal factors. Anomie is the state in which there is a breakdown of social norms and guidance. Anomie is caused by the division of labor and rapid social change from traditional to modern society. It causes feelings of isolation, frustration, and social deprivation among individuals. Alienation Capitalist production alienates workers from their products, their labor power, themselves and their own souls. It is the separation or estrangement of human beings from some essential aspect of their nature or from society, often resulting in feelings of powerlessness or helplessness. ACTIVITY The first one was done for you. Now, bring out a whole sheet of Yellow pad and a ruler. Fill in the table and write the correct answers to complete its meanings. Activity Structural Functionalism is the brain- child of two individual schools of thought – structuralism and functionalism. This theory is used by structural functionalists in visualizing society as a system of highly- interrelated institutions that aims to function together in order to promote and achieve solidarity and stability.