Assess the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Functionalist Approach to Society Essay

Functionalism is seen as a macro-scale court to corporation it sees rules of order as a whole alternatively than looking at parts of it. collect to this, tendalism sees community as a ashes (organic relation), totally in all the institutions break a government agency in concert to piddle a room fellowship. This is particularly useful when observing union in order to understand the dash in which it functions and the way in which all the institutions (organic analogy organs indoors the dust) over work unitedly to sustain companionship as a whole.Functionalism being a macro-scale get is on that pointfore seen as a strong point as it allows functionalist sociologists to observe cab bet, and its institutions, as a whole. Functionalism is withal seen as a consensus theory, it sees corporation as bonny and just, and it acknowledges that many an(prenominal) another(prenominal) societies, including the absolute majority of western ones, have democracy and all in dividuals inside a particular union circumstances the same or quasi(prenominal) norms and slew. This could on that pointfore be seen as a dominance as it acknowledges that democracy does populate in many societies.However, as functionalism is a macro-scale admission and sees decree as a whole, it could miss all important(p) factors/ groups which contribute to the performance of ordering these include small groups and tribes, much(prenominal)(prenominal) as gipsies. Not acknowledging these nonage groups inwardly guild could lead to functionalist sociologists lacking crucial information close how company functions and how minority groups live at bottom a whacking society. This could consequently be seen as a weakness of functionalism as it fails to acknowledge that there be minority groups at heart society.Also, as functionalism is a consensus theory where all individuals within a particular society share the same or similar norms and values and sees society a s being fair and just however, it fails to acknowledge that there are inequalities within society, these inequalities could be present amounts loving physical body, gender or ethnicity. However, other approaches, such(prenominal) as Marxism and womens liberation movement acknowledge that there are inequalities within society which raises the unbelief as to whether functionalism is the most appropriate approach to use when studying society.This is consequently seen as a weakness of functionalism as society does have many inequalities which functionalism fails to acknowledge. Talcott Parsons, a functionalist sociologist who clarify on Durkheims work well-nigh society and its functions, claimed that society is like an organism, in particular, the benevolent corpse. He argued that all institutions, such as the family and the education system, within society function together to maintain society just as the organs within a mankind clay work together to maintain life.In particula r, Parsons place three similarities between the human body and society he claimed that they were both systems within themselves all the parts of a body and the institutions within society fit together in fixed ways. He overly identified that these systems have take the human body ineluctably nutrition to function it sustain life, whereas society take decorous socialisation in order for society to continue functioning in the way that it does.Parsons besides stated that both the human body and society have functions the functions of the systems within the human body ensure that the bodys necessarily are examine thus maintaining life whereas, in society, the frugality functions to maintain the social system. As parsons analogy helps sociologists to better understand the way in which institutions in society work together to maintain a healthy society, it open fire be seen as a strength of functionalism as it helps to structure sociologists perceptions ab fall out how soci ety functions.Parsons also identified four needs of society and how they are met. He claimed that society needs adaptation, this is where the material needs of society are met for example, individuals within society work in order to gain their engage which in turn provides for their material needs. He also argued that society needs remnant attainment society needs to set goals and grasp them this need is met via the policy-making political leaders set goals for society to achieve and these goals help to improve society.Integration is some other need which Parsons identified, this is where gumminess between the antithetic institutions, such as the family and education system, is promoted this is make to avoid chaos and conflict. Latency is also needed by society, this refers to the way in which individuals cope with problems in society they whitethorn turn to religion to reduce the try on which has been put on them by society. These needs which Parsons identified clear be seen as a strength of society as they help sociologists to understand what society needs in order to function tolerablely.However, functionalist sociologist, Merton disagreed with the needs which Parsons identified. Merton claims that Parsons ignored the fact that there are institutions within society that can be dysfunctional, for example, religion can form cohesion but can also safari divisions within society. According to Merton, Parsons failed to acknowledge this. Merton also argues that Parsons fails to differentiate between intended (manifest) and inadvertent (latent) functions within society and therefore, Parsons idea about the needs and functions of society are rattling simplistic.Merton also criticises Parsons idea about indispensability, he assumes that everything is necessary in the way that it is for example, children can only be socialised decently in a two farm, atomic family, however, Merton rejects this claim as he argues that adequate socialisation can occu r dismantle within a single parent family. Due to Mertons arguments, some aspects of functionalism, such as the needs and functions of society, are seen as a weakness of society.There are also other criticisms of functionalism its argued that functionalism explains the do before the causes. For example, functionalism claims that children need to socialised (this is the effect) and therefore the family exists (this is the cause). Due to this, may sociologists argue that the functionalism approach is not one which can be used to explain society properly. Also, bolshie sociologists argue that functionalism has failed to explain conflict and remove within society the approach claims that society is harmonious and built on consensus.However, Marxist and Feminist sociologists argue that exploitation and divergence do exist in many forms, such as social class and gender inequality however, functionalism has failed to acknowledge this and is therefore considered to be an approach which has traditional political theory which is outdated. This therefore shows flaws to the functionalist approach and therefore points out the weaknesses within the functionalist approach.Overall, in conclusion, the functionalist approach has many strengths and weaknesses about the way in which society functions and the needs it requires. It strengths are seen in the way in which it explains the basic needs and function of society, these explanations can be used by other sociologists to improve and maintain an adequate society. However, other approaches, such as Marxism and Feminism have criticised functionalism due to its lack of acknowledgement of exploitation and inequality which occurs within society. However, overall, it is a balanced argument.