Functionalist Sociology2
The Underlying Unity of the Paradigm
6
3
5
Objectivism
LOGO
www.themegallery.com
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.
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
www.themegallery.com
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
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.
LOGO
LOGO
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.
LOGO
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).
LOGO
LOGO
LOGO
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.
LOGO
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.
LOGO
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
LOGO
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”
LOGO
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”
LOGO
Each experience by either individual impacts the other
The relationship ceases to exist if either member departs
LOGO
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
LOGO
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.
LOGO
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”
LOGO
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
LOGO
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
LOGO
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
LOGO
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
LOGO
Introduced by Wilhelm Dilthey and elaborated by Weber
A method to observe how human behaviors relate to cause and effect
in the social realm
*
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
LOGO
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.
LOGO
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.
www.themegallery.com
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
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
www.themegallery.com
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
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
www.themegallery.com
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
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.
www.themegallery.com
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
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.
www.themegallery.com
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
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.
www.themegallery.com
www.themegallery.com
LOGO
www.themegallery.com